Folding Spetum

Culture Northern Italian , perhaps Milan

Dateabout 1550

Mediumsteel with bluing and gilding, wood with gilding

DimensionsExtended: 206.5; Folded: 108.6 cm (81 5/16 × 42 3/4 in.), 5 lb, 1 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsObverse of blade engraved with "IVL" within an ornate cartouche, and on reverse is a character that may be a stylized Roman numeral "II" (perhaps together to be read as "Julii"?). See digital file.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.304

DescriptionOf steel, the head comprised of a long, slightly tapering double-edged thrusting blade with a pair of wide, shallow fullers per face. The base of the blade is secured into a short socket of rectangular section, and on the same rivet pivot a pair of curving, pointed sickle-shaped blades. The socket is hinged on one face to a longer main socket also flat over most of its length, becoming oval below.

The pivoted head is locked by a double press-operated catch and a locking catch. The head is made to fold back over the staff, with the side blades folding inward over the main blade. When fully operative, opening the head rotates the side blades outward.

The socket and base of the blades are blued (now russet) with gold false-damascening (or gilt brass inlay?) in dense arabesque scrollwork.

The head plugs onto, and is twice-riveted to, an original dark wood staff of oval section, with a tapering iron ferrule having a spheroid knop with quadrangular point. The staff is inlaid with a repeated, more open, arabesque motif that is gilded with paint or lacquer.

Folded dimensions: 43 x 3 3/4 x 1 1/2; extended: 207 × 32.4 × 3.5 cm (81 1/2 × 12 3/4 × 1 3/8 in.)
Label TextA spetum is a spear-like staff weapon with a pair of forward-arching blades at the base of the spearhead. This example is a rare, high-status ceremonial version. Not only is it richly decorated with gold inlay on both the head and shaft, but it features an ingenious hinge below the head that allows it to fold up. When the main blade is unfolded, the side blades snap into place. This impressive and expensive object was purely for ceremony. The hinge is a point of mechanical weakness that would have made it unreliable in battle.ProvenanceBaron Nathaniel von Rothschild (Vienna) to 1905; his brother Baron Albert Alphonse von Rothschild (1844-1911); Clarisse von Rothschild (to 1948). Purchased by the Armory at Christie's (London) on 8 July 1999, as lot 73 of the Rothschild sale. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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