Carousel Lance for the Quintain, perhaps for Moritz Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz (1664-1718)
Date1700–1710
Mediumpainted wood and iron
Dimensions2.6 × 4.3 × 313.5 × 10 cm (1 × 1 11/16 × 123 7/16 × 3 15/16 in.), 5 lb, 6 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsUpper case letters "MHZS" deeply carved on flat face of butt. Fragments of an old, ochre color paper label with black ink script on handgrip. Six punched (?) dots on the bottom, inner face near the grip.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.267
DescriptionThe lance is formed of two pieces of light wood (pine?), cut along the grain. The long butt with short handgrip is of oval section and flattened on the side facing the body. It is inserted into the conical base of the shaft. The handgrip itself is straight-sided front and back.Forward of the grip, the shaft tapers acutely to the head, and is longitudinally fluted with five deep, V-sectioned channels that are rounded at the end near the grip. The ribs thus formed between the flutes are uniformly thick to their anterior ends which fade out 51cm from the tip, as the shaft develops a circular section. At the anterior end, the lance is fitted with a slipped-on cylindrical, sleeve-like coronel of iron, cut into twelve parts. Just forward of the grip, the basal face of the lance-shaft is cut with a slightly concave recess, the purpose of which is not known.
The end of the butt is cut off straight, with the presence of vacant holes and one short protruding nail-end suggesting that some form of decorative or protective butt-cap was once fitted here.
The lance is painted overall, on a gessoed ground. The length forward of the grip is entirely black, with the face toward the grip and this itself painted red. This was probably much brighter, but is now discolored to a rather muddy hue. The butt is painted with wide red-and-black spiralled bands. On the red band is an oblique row of three leaf- or flame-shaped motifs, one gold painted, flanked by two in black.
Label TextThe carousel was an elaborate horse ballet in which riders in exotic costumes engaged in tests of equestrian skill. One test, the quintain, involved striking a pivoted and counterbalanced half-figure.ProvenanceProbably Electoral Armory, Dresden; Dr. Bashford Dean (Riverdale, NY). Purchased by John W. Higgins on September 28, 1929 from estate of Dr. Bashford Dean (Riverdale, NY) estate no. 8. Given to the Museum on July 1, 1954. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on viewCollections
late 1700s-early 1800s
