Spontoon
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel, wood
Dimensions
L. 77 7/8 in. (197.8 cm); L. of head 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm); W. 4 5/8 in. (11.8 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 13 oz. (822 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
American
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1942
Accession Number
42.140
Art Historical Context
Behold the **Spontoon**, a 18th-century shaft weapon from American culture, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Arms and Armor (Rogers Fund, 1942). Crafted from steel and wood, this piece measures an impressive 77 7/8 inches (197.8 cm) in length, with a 16 1/2-inch (41.9 cm) head, 4 5/8 inches (11.8 cm) wide, weighing just 1 lb. 13 oz. (822 g). Its balanced design—featuring a pointed steel blade atop a sturdy wooden shaft—exemplifies utilitarian craftsmanship tailored for combat. In the turbulent 18th century, spontoons served as symbols of authority for military officers, particularl...