Rowel Spur
Unknown Artist
c. 1700
Medium
steel
Dimensions
w. 9.5 cm, l. 20.3 cm · diam. 7.2 cm
Classification
Arms and Armor
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
Accession Number
1916.1568
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Instead of a "prick" terminus at the neck, the rowel spur had a rotating wheel installed between two prongs. This type of spur gradually supplemented the prick spur as a safer and less severe alternative for the horse. Rowel spurs first appeared during the 1200s and were in general use by the 1300s.