|
Date: |
|
Description: | Incomplete, cast copper alloy prick spur. What remains of this spur is one incomplete side, the neck and goad. The side of the spur has a surviving length of 67.5mm and is semicircular in section, having a flattened inner face and domed outer face. The side curves down from the neck at an angle of approximately 20 degrees, though it is now bent out of true. It was shaped in this way to curve under the ankle of the rider. The opposing side has become truncated and only 14.72mm survives. The integral neck of the spur is circular in section. It is 27.72mm long and 6.22mm thick. The integral goad is robust. It is lozenge shaped in plan with four broad faces to the top and bottom, giving it a bi pyramid form. The goad is 17.4mm long, 12.04mm by 12.16mm square. The object weighs 40.16g. The original surface partially survives with a mid green patina. Exposed surfaces are bright green or dark brown. Tiny flecks of gilt survive, mostly on the underside of the goad. Break edges are worn smooth, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity. Ellis, 1985 (The Medieval Horse and its Equipment London: HMSO page 124-130) explains that spurs with single pointed goads have been worn since the Roman period and continued into the early 14th century, where upon rowel spurs became the dominant form. The earlier spurs have straight sides and the curved side was introduced in the 12th century. In the medieval period the use of gilding on spurs was used to indicate a man’s status as a knight, but it is likely that the gilding of spurs began before the conventions and customs of dress and rank became the norm in the later medieval period. A parallel of a gilded medieval prick spur could not be found but this does not preclude the practise taking place and the example recorded here is certainly evidence to it. Similar prick spurs can be seen in Ellis, 2002, Prick spurs 700-1700, Finds Research Group Data Sheet 30, number 15 and the London Museum Medieval Catalogue, 1967, London: HMSO, figure 31, number 3. Following these examples and the curved form of the sides, the example recorded here is probably12th-14th century in date. | Subjects: | prick | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | McDonald, Caroline - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
SPUR
Incomplete, cast copper alloy prick…
-
SPUR
Incomplete, cast copper alloy prick…
-
GOAD
Incomplete copper alloy possible goad…
-
SPUR
Incomplete, cast copper alloy prick…
-
SPUR
Incomplete, cast copper alloy medieval…
-
SPUR
Incomplete, cast copper alloy medieval…
-
SPUR
A complete, cast copper alloy…
-
SPUR
A near complete but highly…
-
spur
Medieval spur; incomplete cast copper…
-
SPUR
Medieval spur; incomplete cast copper…
|