The low-resolution images published on this Website are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY-NC-ND). For more details: Fitzwilliam Terms of Use
This licence does not include any images of works that are still in copyright. Artistic copyright extends from the life of the artist to 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.
Download this imageFor further information on use of images or to license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who can discuss terms and fees.
Maker: Unknown
Bronze spear head with a green patina, and mineral preserved organics in the socket. The blade appears as the tongue projecting from the jaws of a crocodile; possibly the gharial (Gavialis Gangeticus), commonly found in India and Burma. On the top of the head there is a rectangular projection pierced by a circular hole, and on each side of the socket there is a circular hole
Oval label printed in black with a tower and 'Malcolm Collection', inscribed in blue black ink 'A.2'
The edges of the blade and its tip are chipped, and there is a large chip in the socket.
History note: Major General Sir Neil Malcolm
Lent to the museum by Helen H. L. Whittow (nee Malcolm)
Length: 18 cm
Method of acquisition: Loan (1992) by Whittow, Helen H. L. (nee Malcolm)
Han Dynasty (BC 206 - AD 220)
Production date:
AD 0220
: Han Dynasty, or earlier
Accession number: ML.1-1992
Primary reference Number: 206797
A.2
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
External
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Spearhead" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/206797 Accessed: 2025-12-06 04:15:57
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/206797
|title=Spearhead
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 04:15:57|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-206797
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/portfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/565/918/large_ML_1_1992_1_201201_mdb56_dc2.jpg"
alt="Spearhead"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Spearhead</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...