Lance for "Tilting at the Ring"
Cultureprobably
German
Date1650–1750
Mediumpainted wood (partially restored) with steel
Dimensions22.7 × 270.1 × 7.8 cm (8 15/16 × 106 5/16 × 3 1/16 in.), 2 lb, 10 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.261
DescriptionAsh (?) shaft, the forward two-thirds of which was obliquely broken off & lost, & replaced with modern restoration of walnut (?) wood. Lance of circular section, with cylindrical handgrip. Swellings at either end are octagonally faceted near handgrip, & develop the circular section as they progress. Grip is straight-sided both front and back. Butt end roughly rounded off. Forward part of shaft has gentle taper to end which is fitted with pikehead having short pair of langets, one of which retains mounting-nail. Poorly made steel head is of lozenge section, with deeply concave faces each divided by strong medial rib. Below shoulders of blade, offset by pair of thin, close-set lines, is integral conical socket with short langets.
Lance painted dull red, with alternate facets of forward swelling painted creamy white. Forward of this, set off by white-painted ring, is wide spiralled band extending to head.
Label TextMedieval knights practiced a range of games and sports to help train for the skills of mounted combat. Tilting at the ring involved charging with the lance at a large ring suspended on a pole, trying to catch the ring on the spearhead. The sport remained in use long after lances ceased to be of military importance. Today, tilting at the ring is the state sport of Maryland.ProvenanceSaid to have come from the Helbing auction (Munich, 1929), no lot given. Purchased by the Armory from Herr Ernst Schmidt (Munich, Germany), his no. 41, on 5 June 1930. (Price paid: DM 85 = $20.30) Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
about 1600–1650
