Large Argentine Spur Made Of Silver-plated Bronze And Steel, 19th Century

Spurs are always charming objects, since they remind us of the rides of free horsemen and evoke away of life that inspires dreams in our dreary modern times.
This one, unfortunately “unpaired,” is Argentine, of particularly large size, and crafted with greater care than most of spurs of the period. It is made mostly of silver-plated bronze, except for the wheel, which is made of steel. It can be dated from the mid-19th century, around 1840–1850, according to the sources consulted.
It consists of a bow (“arco”) ending at each end with a fastening system featuring a double loop finely decorated with floral motifs and lined with a thin inner protective layer. The arms of the bow are decorated with a frieze of floral motifs.
This bow is connected to the “body”—that is, the part called the “pihuelo”—which supports the wheel (called the “rodeja/roseta”) via riveting.
Between the bow and the wheel support is a sort of large, cut-out washer disccalled as “rodete.” It is shaped like a large openwork flower with several rows of cut-out petals.
 The body, or wheel support , takes on the traditional shape reminiscent of a bean and depicts a stylized flower.
The wheel is made of steel, with 16 large pointed prongs alternating with 16 smaller pointed prongs. The rest of the wheel’s body is cut out to form a geometric pattern of diamonds and circular segments. It measures approximately 9.5 cm in diameter.
This charming object is a high-quality piece, typical of Argentine culture. It will appeal to any lover of horses and people interested in  the culture of the Rio de la Plata.
Ref. Y-2242Shipping costs: France €20, Europe €25