Prick Spur

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Published by Viollet-le-Duc in his Dictionnaire du mobilier français in 1874 as a rare type of 12th-century spur that would have been sewn directly to the mail at the back of the foot, recent study revealed it to be a forgery. No other spur of this type is preserved or documented. Regular spurs used at this time consist of a goad or prick, more or less pointed, connected to side arms attached to the foot with straps.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art