What: Spear given by Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Henry Northcote

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

The catalogue entry reads:

“Spear forged from iron with long wooden handle. The spear head is long and narrow with a central raised spine on each side. The shaft is octagonally faceted and secured to the handle with a small nail.The tip of the handle is bound with a wide band of iron.”

Curator’s comments: “The iron band wrapped around the base of the spear acts as a counter balance for the weight of the spear head. The careful weighting of the weapon allows for more accurate throwing.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1230.17
Date: 19thC
Height: 192 cm
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh 
Acquisition date: 1868