Product Details
EX JOHN WOODMAN HIGGINS COLLECTION
A SPEAR WITH SIDE-BLADE IN THE STYLE OF A JAPANESE HOKO,
but probably European, with straight 17in. broad double-edged blade with integral hooked side-blade of approximately 6in. curving away from the tip (fatigue crack at juncture), the whole mounted to a moulded and beaten socket, the base of blade with horizontal flutes, one stamped with obscured details (possibly in English), woven corded tassel at join and fitted to an 86in. wood shaft (possibly later) bearing an applied plaque marked 'THE JOHN WOODMAN HIGGINS ARMORY INC, WORCESTER, MASS' and the inventory number '2220', 106in. overall
Provenance: As a young man, John Woodman Higgins (1874-1961) had a passion for medieval tales about knights and castles. Growing up in late nineteenth-century Worcester, then a leading center of American manufacturing, he observed blacksmiths, factory workers, and entrepreneurs, and developed an interest in metalworking and industry. These two passions would merge in the Higgins Armory.
By 1927, Higgins had decided to found a museum. The John Woodman Higgins Armory was incorporated in 1928, and opened in 1931. The Armory was an industrial museum depicting the evolution of metalworking. Built at the front of the Presteel factory, its very design reflected the fusion of old and new. Outside was a cutting-edge Art Deco exterior of glass and steel. Inside, the galleries suggested a medieval Great Hall. The hall was divided into "ancient" and "modern" wings, the one consisting mostly of suits of armor, and the other showcasing modern metalwork, including an automobile engine and a Piper Cub airplane. Visitors were encouraged to tour the factory after viewing the museum.
The museum opened in 1931; Higgins died in 1961, and about a decade later, Worcester Pressed Steel closed its doors. The Higgins Armory continued until 2013, but ultimately the limited endowment to support the museum, including the expensive maintenance of its historical building, forced the Armory to shut down. The collection was moved to the Worcester Art Museum, where it has been instrumental in drawing a new generation of visitors to one of Worcester's cultural treasures
Please click HERE to view Terms & Conditions. Please note all Lots are listed in accordance with UK Law, for overseas buyers, please ensure you are familiar with your relevant local firearms and customs regulations before bidding.
Estimate £150-250
This bladed product is not for sale to people under the age of 18. By bidding on this item you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over.
Please be aware that we are unable to send edged weapons or bladed products by postal courier to a UK residential address (Offensive Weapons Act 2019)