diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/2020-04-12-spines.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/2020-04-12-spines.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d4105aecb4cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/users/next_whats_new/2020-04-12-spines.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+``Axes.spines``
+---------------
+
+``Axes.spines`` is now a dedicated container class `.Spines` for a set of
+`.Spine`\s instead of an ``OrderedDict``. On top of dict-like access,
+``Axes.spines`` now also supports some ``pandas.Series``-like features.
+
+Accessing single elements by item or by attribute
+
+    ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+    ax.spines.top.set_visible(False)
+
+Accessing a subset of items::
+
+    ax.spines[['top', 'right']].set_visible(False)
+
+Accessing all items simultaneously::
+
+    ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
diff --git a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
index 1e1872de962d..f7af129d74be 100644
--- a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
+++ b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ def demo_rgb2():
 
     for ax in fig.axes:
         ax.tick_params(axis='both', direction='in')
-        for sp1 in ax.spines.values():
-            sp1.set_color("w")
+        ax.spines[:].set_color("w")
         for tick in ax.xaxis.get_major_ticks() + ax.yaxis.get_major_ticks():
             tick.tick1line.set_markeredgecolor("w")
             tick.tick2line.set_markeredgecolor("w")
diff --git a/examples/images_contours_and_fields/image_annotated_heatmap.py b/examples/images_contours_and_fields/image_annotated_heatmap.py
index fd912dffa755..76e6f60a51e0 100644
--- a/examples/images_contours_and_fields/image_annotated_heatmap.py
+++ b/examples/images_contours_and_fields/image_annotated_heatmap.py
@@ -149,8 +149,7 @@ def heatmap(data, row_labels, col_labels, ax=None,
              rotation_mode="anchor")
 
     # Turn spines off and create white grid.
-    for edge, spine in ax.spines.items():
-        spine.set_visible(False)
+    ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
     ax.set_xticks(np.arange(data.shape[1]+1)-.5, minor=True)
     ax.set_yticks(np.arange(data.shape[0]+1)-.5, minor=True)
diff --git a/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/linestyles.py b/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/linestyles.py
index af9d28443037..35920617c90c 100644
--- a/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/linestyles.py
+++ b/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/linestyles.py
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ def plot_linestyles(ax, linestyles, title):
            yticks=np.arange(len(linestyles)),
            yticklabels=yticklabels)
     ax.tick_params(left=False, bottom=False, labelbottom=False)
-    for spine in ax.spines.values():
-        spine.set_visible(False)
+    ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
     # For each line style, add a text annotation with a small offset from
     # the reference point (0 in Axes coords, y tick value in Data coords).
diff --git a/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/timeline.py b/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/timeline.py
index 3911fcd6559c..ee1d016f8f95 100644
--- a/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/timeline.py
+++ b/examples/lines_bars_and_markers/timeline.py
@@ -89,8 +89,7 @@
 
 # remove y axis and spines
 ax.yaxis.set_visible(False)
-for spine in ["left", "top", "right"]:
-    ax.spines[spine].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines[["left", "top", "right"]].set_visible(False)
 
 ax.margins(y=0.1)
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py b/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
index aef1736ce761..079ba399634c 100644
--- a/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
+++ b/examples/showcase/bachelors_degrees_by_gender.py
@@ -32,10 +32,7 @@
     '#17becf', '#9edae5'])
 
 # Remove the plot frame lines. They are unnecessary here.
-ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['left'].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
 # Ensure that the axis ticks only show up on the bottom and left of the plot.
 # Ticks on the right and top of the plot are generally unnecessary.
diff --git a/examples/showcase/integral.py b/examples/showcase/integral.py
index 06f95d8dec08..e0d07fec3de2 100644
--- a/examples/showcase/integral.py
+++ b/examples/showcase/integral.py
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ def func(x):
 fig.text(0.9, 0.05, '$x$')
 fig.text(0.1, 0.9, '$y$')
 
-ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.right.set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
 
 ax.set_xticks((a, b))
diff --git a/examples/showcase/xkcd.py b/examples/showcase/xkcd.py
index 22fec6cfdc87..4ab16c66a536 100644
--- a/examples/showcase/xkcd.py
+++ b/examples/showcase/xkcd.py
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 
     fig = plt.figure()
     ax = fig.add_axes((0.1, 0.2, 0.8, 0.7))
-    ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
     ax.set_xticks([])
     ax.set_yticks([])
     ax.set_ylim([-30, 10])
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@
     fig = plt.figure()
     ax = fig.add_axes((0.1, 0.2, 0.8, 0.7))
     ax.bar([0, 1], [0, 100], 0.25)
-    ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
     ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
     ax.set_xticks([0, 1])
     ax.set_xticklabels(['CONFIRMED BY\nEXPERIMENT', 'REFUTED BY\nEXPERIMENT'])
diff --git a/examples/specialty_plots/skewt.py b/examples/specialty_plots/skewt.py
index 50167ffb203c..e6023fef4b5b 100644
--- a/examples/specialty_plots/skewt.py
+++ b/examples/specialty_plots/skewt.py
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ class SkewXAxes(Axes):
     def _init_axis(self):
         # Taken from Axes and modified to use our modified X-axis
         self.xaxis = SkewXAxis(self)
-        self.spines['top'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
-        self.spines['bottom'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.top.register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.bottom.register_axis(self.xaxis)
         self.yaxis = maxis.YAxis(self)
-        self.spines['left'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
-        self.spines['right'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.left.register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.right.register_axis(self.yaxis)
 
     def _gen_axes_spines(self):
         spines = {'top': SkewSpine.linear_spine(self, 'top'),
diff --git a/examples/subplots_axes_and_figures/broken_axis.py b/examples/subplots_axes_and_figures/broken_axis.py
index 0490768cf0ea..38d859d0e00d 100644
--- a/examples/subplots_axes_and_figures/broken_axis.py
+++ b/examples/subplots_axes_and_figures/broken_axis.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@
 ax2.set_ylim(0, .22)  # most of the data
 
 # hide the spines between ax and ax2
-ax1.spines['bottom'].set_visible(False)
-ax2.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax1.spines.bottom.set_visible(False)
+ax2.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 ax1.xaxis.tick_top()
 ax1.tick_params(labeltop=False)  # don't put tick labels at the top
 ax2.xaxis.tick_bottom()
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/centered_spines_with_arrows.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/centered_spines_with_arrows.py
index a22f613da764..31f01f61fc8d 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/centered_spines_with_arrows.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/centered_spines_with_arrows.py
@@ -14,11 +14,9 @@
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 # Move the left and bottom spines to x = 0 and y = 0, respectively.
-ax.spines["left"].set_position(("data", 0))
-ax.spines["bottom"].set_position(("data", 0))
+ax.spines[["left", "bottom"]].set_position(("data", 0))
 # Hide the top and right spines.
-ax.spines["top"].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines["right"].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines[["top", "right"]].set_visible(False)
 
 # Draw arrows (as black triangles: ">k"/"^k") at the end of the axes.  In each
 # case, one of the coordinates (0) is a data coordinate (i.e., y = 0 or x = 0,
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/multiple_yaxis_with_spines.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/multiple_yaxis_with_spines.py
index 6cd49f35432f..54eebdae11ba 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/multiple_yaxis_with_spines.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/multiple_yaxis_with_spines.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 # Offset the right spine of twin2.  The ticks and label have already been
 # placed on the right by twinx above.
-twin2.spines["right"].set_position(("axes", 1.2))
+twin2.spines.right.set_position(("axes", 1.2))
 
 p1, = ax.plot([0, 1, 2], [0, 1, 2], "b-", label="Density")
 p2, = twin1.plot([0, 1, 2], [0, 3, 2], "r-", label="Temperature")
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spine_placement_demo.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spine_placement_demo.py
index b831209abad3..211c723ea1ae 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spine_placement_demo.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spine_placement_demo.py
@@ -21,40 +21,40 @@
 ax = fig.add_subplot(2, 2, 1)
 ax.set_title('centered spines')
 ax.plot(x, y)
-ax.spines['left'].set_position('center')
-ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_position('center')
-ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+ax.spines.left.set_position('center')
+ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+ax.spines.bottom.set_position('center')
+ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 
 ax = fig.add_subplot(2, 2, 2)
 ax.set_title('zeroed spines')
 ax.plot(x, y)
-ax.spines['left'].set_position('zero')
-ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_position('zero')
-ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+ax.spines.left.set_position('zero')
+ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+ax.spines.bottom.set_position('zero')
+ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 
 ax = fig.add_subplot(2, 2, 3)
 ax.set_title('spines at axes (0.6, 0.1)')
 ax.plot(x, y)
-ax.spines['left'].set_position(('axes', 0.6))
-ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_position(('axes', 0.1))
-ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+ax.spines.left.set_position(('axes', 0.6))
+ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+ax.spines.bottom.set_position(('axes', 0.1))
+ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 
 ax = fig.add_subplot(2, 2, 4)
 ax.set_title('spines at data (1, 2)')
 ax.plot(x, y)
-ax.spines['left'].set_position(('data', 1))
-ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_position(('data', 2))
-ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+ax.spines.left.set_position(('data', 1))
+ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+ax.spines.bottom.set_position(('data', 2))
+ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines.py
index e0522d78ce74..08e3700d1387 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 ax1.set_title('bottom-left spines')
 
 # Hide the right and top spines
-ax1.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax1.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax1.spines.right.set_visible(False)
+ax1.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 # Only show ticks on the left and bottom spines
 ax1.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 ax1.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@
 ax2.plot(x, y)
 
 # Only draw spine between the y-ticks
-ax2.spines['left'].set_bounds(-1, 1)
+ax2.spines.left.set_bounds(-1, 1)
 # Hide the right and top spines
-ax2.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax2.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax2.spines.right.set_visible(False)
+ax2.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 # Only show ticks on the left and bottom spines
 ax2.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 ax2.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_bounds.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_bounds.py
index dc40a7bbe962..96205a43d38e 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_bounds.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_bounds.py
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@
 ax.set_yticks([-1, 0, 1])
 
 # Only draw spine between the y-ticks
-ax.spines['left'].set_bounds((-1, 1))
+ax.spines.left.set_bounds((-1, 1))
 # Hide the right and top spines
-ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.right.set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 # Only show ticks on the left and bottom spines
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_dropped.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_dropped.py
index be9662df8e14..954e1c7ffb3a 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_dropped.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/spines_dropped.py
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@
 ax.set_title('dropped spines')
 
 # Move left and bottom spines outward by 10 points
-ax.spines['left'].set_position(('outward', 10))
-ax.spines['bottom'].set_position(('outward', 10))
+ax.spines.left.set_position(('outward', 10))
+ax.spines.bottom.set_position(('outward', 10))
 # Hide the right and top spines
-ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
-ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.right.set_visible(False)
+ax.spines.top.set_visible(False)
 # Only show ticks on the left and bottom spines
 ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
 ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-formatters.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-formatters.py
index d410c90192cf..3693b51a4b1a 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-formatters.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-formatters.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ def setup(ax, title):
     """Set up common parameters for the Axes in the example."""
     # only show the bottom spine
     ax.yaxis.set_major_locator(ticker.NullLocator())
-    ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['left'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.left.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 
     # define tick positions
     ax.xaxis.set_major_locator(ticker.MultipleLocator(1.00))
diff --git a/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-locators.py b/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-locators.py
index bda576c26ea1..eeac29a07ad2 100644
--- a/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-locators.py
+++ b/examples/ticks_and_spines/tick-locators.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ def setup(ax, title):
     """Set up common parameters for the Axes in the example."""
     # only show the bottom spine
     ax.yaxis.set_major_locator(ticker.NullLocator())
-    ax.spines['right'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['left'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['top'].set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.right.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.left.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.top.set_color('none')
 
     ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
     ax.tick_params(which='major', width=1.00, length=5)
diff --git a/examples/userdemo/demo_gridspec06.py b/examples/userdemo/demo_gridspec06.py
index 80138b3d651c..c42224ce1e7b 100644
--- a/examples/userdemo/demo_gridspec06.py
+++ b/examples/userdemo/demo_gridspec06.py
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ def squiggle_xy(a, b, c, d):
 # show only the outside spines
 for ax in fig.get_axes():
     ss = ax.get_subplotspec()
-    ax.spines['top'].set_visible(ss.is_first_row())
-    ax.spines['bottom'].set_visible(ss.is_last_row())
-    ax.spines['left'].set_visible(ss.is_first_col())
-    ax.spines['right'].set_visible(ss.is_last_col())
+    ax.spines.top.set_visible(ss.is_first_row())
+    ax.spines.bottom.set_visible(ss.is_last_row())
+    ax.spines.left.set_visible(ss.is_first_col())
+    ax.spines.right.set_visible(ss.is_last_col())
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index b9f0498045f6..a0f5498726df 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ def __init__(self, fig, rect,
         # placeholder for any colorbars added that use this axes.
         # (see colorbar.py):
         self._colorbars = []
-        self.spines = self._gen_axes_spines()
+        self.spines = mspines.Spines.from_dict(self._gen_axes_spines())
 
         # this call may differ for non-sep axes, e.g., polar
         self._init_axis()
@@ -660,11 +660,11 @@ def get_window_extent(self, *args, **kwargs):
     def _init_axis(self):
         # This is moved out of __init__ because non-separable axes don't use it
         self.xaxis = maxis.XAxis(self)
-        self.spines['bottom'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
-        self.spines['top'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.bottom.register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.top.register_axis(self.xaxis)
         self.yaxis = maxis.YAxis(self)
-        self.spines['left'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
-        self.spines['right'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.left.register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.right.register_axis(self.yaxis)
         self._update_transScale()
 
     def set_figure(self, fig):
@@ -763,10 +763,10 @@ def get_xaxis_transform(self, which='grid'):
             return self._xaxis_transform
         elif which == 'tick1':
             # for cartesian projection, this is bottom spine
-            return self.spines['bottom'].get_spine_transform()
+            return self.spines.bottom.get_spine_transform()
         elif which == 'tick2':
             # for cartesian projection, this is top spine
-            return self.spines['top'].get_spine_transform()
+            return self.spines.top.get_spine_transform()
         else:
             raise ValueError('unknown value for which')
 
@@ -839,10 +839,10 @@ def get_yaxis_transform(self, which='grid'):
             return self._yaxis_transform
         elif which == 'tick1':
             # for cartesian projection, this is bottom spine
-            return self.spines['left'].get_spine_transform()
+            return self.spines.left.get_spine_transform()
         elif which == 'tick2':
             # for cartesian projection, this is top spine
-            return self.spines['right'].get_spine_transform()
+            return self.spines.right.get_spine_transform()
         else:
             raise ValueError('unknown value for which')
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py
index a3a88357426b..58db44ad05c9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_secondary_axes.py
@@ -49,10 +49,8 @@ def __init__(self, parent, orientation, location, functions, **kwargs):
         otheraxis.set_major_locator(mticker.NullLocator())
         otheraxis.set_ticks_position('none')
 
-        for st in self._otherstrings:
-            self.spines[st].set_visible(False)
-        for st in self._locstrings:
-            self.spines[st].set_visible(True)
+        self.spines[self._otherstrings].set_visible(False)
+        self.spines[self._locstrings].set_visible(True)
 
         if self._pos < 0.5:
             # flip the location strings...
@@ -259,13 +257,13 @@ def set_color(self, color):
         """
         if self._orientation == 'x':
             self.tick_params(axis='x', colors=color)
-            self.spines['bottom'].set_color(color)
-            self.spines['top'].set_color(color)
+            self.spines.bottom.set_color(color)
+            self.spines.top.set_color(color)
             self.xaxis.label.set_color(color)
         else:
             self.tick_params(axis='y', colors=color)
-            self.spines['left'].set_color(color)
-            self.spines['right'].set_color(color)
+            self.spines.left.set_color(color)
+            self.spines.right.set_color(color)
             self.yaxis.label.set_color(color)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/spines.py b/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
index dcd259a95bf0..86957c6ddea1 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/spines.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+from collections.abc import MutableMapping
+import functools
+
 import numpy as np
 
 import matplotlib
@@ -534,3 +537,114 @@ def set_color(self, c):
         """
         self.set_edgecolor(c)
         self.stale = True
+
+
+class SpinesProxy:
+    """
+    A proxy to broadcast ``set_*`` method calls to all contained `.Spines`.
+
+    The proxy cannot be used for any other operations on its members.
+
+    The supported methods are determined dynamically based on the contained
+    spines. If not all spines support a given method, it's executed only on
+    the subset of spines that support it.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, spine_dict):
+        self._spine_dict = spine_dict
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        broadcast_targets = [spine for spine in self._spine_dict.values()
+                             if hasattr(spine, name)]
+        if not name.startswith('set_') or not broadcast_targets:
+            raise AttributeError(
+                f"'SpinesProxy' object has no attribute '{name}'")
+
+        def x(_targets, _funcname, *args, **kwargs):
+            for spine in _targets:
+                getattr(spine, _funcname)(*args, **kwargs)
+        x = functools.partial(x, broadcast_targets, name)
+        x.__doc__ = broadcast_targets[0].__doc__
+        return x
+
+    def __dir__(self):
+        names = []
+        for spine in self._spine_dict.values():
+            names.extend(name
+                         for name in dir(spine) if name.startswith('set_'))
+        return list(sorted(set(names)))
+
+
+class Spines(MutableMapping):
+    r"""
+    The container of all `.Spine`\s in an Axes.
+
+    The interface is dict-like mapping names (e.g. 'left') to `.Spine` objects.
+    Additionally it implements some pandas.Series-like features like accessing
+    elements by attribute::
+
+        spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+        spines.top.set_visible(False)
+
+    Multiple spines can be addressed simultaneously by passing a list::
+
+        spines[['top', 'right']].set_visible(False)
+
+    Use an open slice to address all spines::
+
+        spines[:].set_visible(False)
+
+    The latter two indexing methods will return a `SpinesProxy` that broadcasts
+    all ``set_*`` calls to its members, but cannot be used for any other
+    operation.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+        self._dict = kwargs
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, d):
+        return cls(**d)
+
+    def __getstate__(self):
+        return self._dict
+
+    def __setstate__(self, state):
+        self.__init__(**state)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            return self._dict[name]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"'Spines' object does not contain a '{name}' spine")
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        if isinstance(key, list):
+            unknown_keys = [k for k in key if k not in self._dict]
+            if unknown_keys:
+                raise KeyError(', '.join(unknown_keys))
+            return SpinesProxy({k: v for k, v in self._dict.items()
+                                if k in key})
+        if isinstance(key, tuple):
+            raise ValueError('Multiple spines must be passed as a single list')
+        if isinstance(key, slice):
+            if key.start is None and key.stop is None and key.step is None:
+                return SpinesProxy(self._dict)
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    'Spines does not support slicing except for the fully '
+                    'open slice [:] to access all spines.')
+        return self._dict[key]
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        # TODO: Do we want to deprecate adding spines?
+        self._dict[key] = value
+
+    def __delitem__(self, key):
+        # TODO: Do we want to deprecate deleting spines?
+        del self._dict[key]
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return iter(self._dict)
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        return len(self._dict)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 6d3050c3df8e..eb977049a179 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -4506,8 +4506,7 @@ def test_twin_spines():
     def make_patch_spines_invisible(ax):
         ax.set_frame_on(True)
         ax.patch.set_visible(False)
-        for sp in ax.spines.values():
-            sp.set_visible(False)
+        ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
     fig = plt.figure(figsize=(4, 3))
     fig.subplots_adjust(right=0.75)
@@ -4518,13 +4517,13 @@ def make_patch_spines_invisible(ax):
 
     # Offset the right spine of par2.  The ticks and label have already been
     # placed on the right by twinx above.
-    par2.spines["right"].set_position(("axes", 1.2))
+    par2.spines.right.set_position(("axes", 1.2))
     # Having been created by twinx, par2 has its frame off, so the line of
     # its detached spine is invisible.  First, activate the frame but make
     # the patch and spines invisible.
     make_patch_spines_invisible(par2)
     # Second, show the right spine.
-    par2.spines["right"].set_visible(True)
+    par2.spines.right.set_visible(True)
 
     p1, = host.plot([0, 1, 2], [0, 1, 2], "b-")
     p2, = par1.plot([0, 1, 2], [0, 3, 2], "r-")
@@ -5733,8 +5732,7 @@ def test_axisbelow():
         ax.grid(color='c', linestyle='-', linewidth=3)
         ax.tick_params(top=False, bottom=False,
                        left=False, right=False)
-        for spine in ax.spines.values():
-            spine.set_visible(False)
+        ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
         ax.set_axisbelow(setting)
 
 
@@ -6124,11 +6122,11 @@ def test_set_position():
 
 def test_spines_properbbox_after_zoom():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-    bb = ax.spines['bottom'].get_window_extent(fig.canvas.get_renderer())
+    bb = ax.spines.bottom.get_window_extent(fig.canvas.get_renderer())
     # this is what zoom calls:
     ax._set_view_from_bbox((320, 320, 500, 500), 'in',
                            None, False, False)
-    bb2 = ax.spines['bottom'].get_window_extent(fig.canvas.get_renderer())
+    bb2 = ax.spines.bottom.get_window_extent(fig.canvas.get_renderer())
     np.testing.assert_allclose(bb.get_points(), bb2.get_points(), rtol=1e-6)
 
 
@@ -6386,7 +6384,7 @@ def test_displaced_spine():
     with rc_context({'_internal.classic_mode': False}):
         fig, ax = plt.subplots(dpi=200, figsize=(6, 6))
         ax.set(xticklabels=[], yticklabels=[])
-        ax.spines['bottom'].set_position(('axes', -0.1))
+        ax.spines.bottom.set_position(('axes', -0.1))
         fig.canvas.draw()
         bbaxis, bbspines, bbax, bbtb = color_boxes(fig, ax)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
index 1fea19fbb8ba..0637f66e4f34 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_image.py
@@ -522,8 +522,7 @@ def test_rasterize_dpi():
     for ax in axs:
         ax.set_xticks([])
         ax.set_yticks([])
-        for spine in ax.spines.values():
-            spine.set_visible(False)
+        ax.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
     rcParams['savefig.dpi'] = 10
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_mathtext.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_mathtext.py
index faea69dc6c4a..ebfe070995c8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_mathtext.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_mathtext.py
@@ -266,8 +266,7 @@ def test_mathtext_exceptions(math, msg):
 def test_single_minus_sign():
     plt.figure(figsize=(0.3, 0.3))
     plt.text(0.5, 0.5, '$-$')
-    for spine in plt.gca().spines.values():
-        spine.set_visible(False)
+    plt.gca().spines[:].set_visible(False)
     plt.gca().set_xticks([])
     plt.gca().set_yticks([])
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_skew.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_skew.py
index 7ac1c049f8cd..39dc37347bb4 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_skew.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_skew.py
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ class SkewXAxes(Axes):
     def _init_axis(self):
         # Taken from Axes and modified to use our modified X-axis
         self.xaxis = SkewXAxis(self)
-        self.spines['top'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
-        self.spines['bottom'].register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.top.register_axis(self.xaxis)
+        self.spines.bottom.register_axis(self.xaxis)
         self.yaxis = maxis.YAxis(self)
-        self.spines['left'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
-        self.spines['right'].register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.left.register_axis(self.yaxis)
+        self.spines.right.register_axis(self.yaxis)
 
     def _gen_axes_spines(self):
         spines = {'top': SkewSpine.linear_spine(self, 'top'),
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_spines.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_spines.py
index 5e9ec881ac9f..589badc310d9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_spines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_spines.py
@@ -1,9 +1,52 @@
 import numpy as np
+import pytest
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+from matplotlib.spines import Spines
 from matplotlib.testing.decorators import check_figures_equal, image_comparison
 
 
+def test_spine_class():
+    """Test Spines and SpinesProxy in isolation."""
+    class SpineMock:
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.val = None
+
+        def set_val(self, val):
+            self.val = val
+
+    spines_dict = {
+        'left': SpineMock(),
+        'right': SpineMock(),
+        'top': SpineMock(),
+        'bottom': SpineMock(),
+    }
+    spines = Spines(**spines_dict)
+
+    assert spines['left'] is spines_dict['left']
+    assert spines.left is spines_dict['left']
+
+    spines[['left', 'right']].set_val('x')
+    assert spines.left.val == 'x'
+    assert spines.right.val == 'x'
+    assert spines.top.val is None
+    assert spines.bottom.val is None
+
+    spines[:].set_val('y')
+    assert all(spine.val == 'y' for spine in spines.values())
+
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError, match='foo'):
+        spines['foo']
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError, match='foo, bar'):
+        spines[['left', 'foo', 'right', 'bar']]
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='single list'):
+        spines['left', 'right']
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='Spines does not support slicing'):
+        spines['left':'right']
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='Spines does not support slicing'):
+        spines['top':]
+
+
 @image_comparison(['spines_axes_positions'])
 def test_spines_axes_positions():
     # SF bug 2852168
@@ -13,21 +56,21 @@ def test_spines_axes_positions():
     ax = fig.add_subplot(1, 1, 1)
     ax.set_title('centered spines')
     ax.plot(x, y)
-    ax.spines['right'].set_position(('axes', 0.1))
+    ax.spines.right.set_position(('axes', 0.1))
     ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('right')
-    ax.spines['top'].set_position(('axes', 0.25))
+    ax.spines.top.set_position(('axes', 0.25))
     ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('top')
-    ax.spines['left'].set_color('none')
-    ax.spines['bottom'].set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.left.set_color('none')
+    ax.spines.bottom.set_color('none')
 
 
 @image_comparison(['spines_data_positions'])
 def test_spines_data_positions():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-    ax.spines['left'].set_position(('data', -1.5))
-    ax.spines['top'].set_position(('data', 0.5))
-    ax.spines['right'].set_position(('data', -0.5))
-    ax.spines['bottom'].set_position('zero')
+    ax.spines.left.set_position(('data', -1.5))
+    ax.spines.top.set_position(('data', 0.5))
+    ax.spines.right.set_position(('data', -0.5))
+    ax.spines.bottom.set_position('zero')
     ax.set_xlim([-2, 2])
     ax.set_ylim([-2, 2])
 
@@ -42,14 +85,14 @@ def test_spine_nonlinear_data_positions(fig_test, fig_ref):
     # linewidth to distinguish them.  The calls to tick_params removes labels
     # (for image comparison purposes) and harmonizes tick positions with the
     # reference).
-    ax.spines["left"].set_position(("data", 1))
-    ax.spines["left"].set_linewidth(2)
-    ax.spines["right"].set_position(("data", .1))
+    ax.spines.left.set_position(("data", 1))
+    ax.spines.left.set_linewidth(2)
+    ax.spines.right.set_position(("data", .1))
     ax.tick_params(axis="y", labelleft=False, direction="in")
 
     ax = fig_ref.add_subplot()
     ax.set(xscale="log", xlim=(.1, 1))
-    ax.spines["right"].set_linewidth(2)
+    ax.spines.right.set_linewidth(2)
     ax.tick_params(axis="y", labelleft=False, left=False, right=True)
 
 
@@ -67,24 +110,24 @@ def test_label_without_ticks():
     plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3)
     ax.plot(np.arange(10))
     ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
-    ax.spines['left'].set_position(('outward', 30))
-    ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
+    ax.spines.left.set_position(('outward', 30))
+    ax.spines.right.set_visible(False)
     ax.set_ylabel('y label')
     ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
-    ax.spines['bottom'].set_position(('outward', 30))
-    ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
+    ax.spines.bottom.set_position(('outward', 30))
+    ax.spines.top.set_visible(False)
     ax.set_xlabel('x label')
     ax.xaxis.set_ticks([])
     ax.yaxis.set_ticks([])
     plt.draw()
 
-    spine = ax.spines['left']
+    spine = ax.spines.left
     spinebbox = spine.get_transform().transform_path(
         spine.get_path()).get_extents()
     assert ax.yaxis.label.get_position()[0] < spinebbox.xmin, \
         "Y-Axis label not left of the spine"
 
-    spine = ax.spines['bottom']
+    spine = ax.spines.bottom
     spinebbox = spine.get_transform().transform_path(
         spine.get_path()).get_extents()
     assert ax.xaxis.label.get_position()[1] < spinebbox.ymin, \
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axislines.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axislines.py
index 3e2dca2c573b..9d8e9f864f72 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axislines.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axislines.py
@@ -467,14 +467,12 @@ def toggle_axisline(self, b=None):
             b = not self._axisline_on
         if b:
             self._axisline_on = True
-            for s in self.spines.values():
-                s.set_visible(False)
+            self.spines[:].set_visible(False)
             self.xaxis.set_visible(False)
             self.yaxis.set_visible(False)
         else:
             self._axisline_on = False
-            for s in self.spines.values():
-                s.set_visible(True)
+            self.spines[:].set_visible(True)
             self.xaxis.set_visible(True)
             self.yaxis.set_visible(True)
 
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
index 3d08a12b2ffc..e981c5f62a85 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
@@ -133,8 +133,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         # mplot3d currently manages its own spines and needs these turned off
         # for bounding box calculations
-        for k in self.spines.keys():
-            self.spines[k].set_visible(False)
+        self.spines[:].set_visible(False)
 
     def set_axis_off(self):
         self._axis3don = False
diff --git a/tutorials/intermediate/gridspec.py b/tutorials/intermediate/gridspec.py
index bc19a618c8d9..4debe8a9d43a 100644
--- a/tutorials/intermediate/gridspec.py
+++ b/tutorials/intermediate/gridspec.py
@@ -247,10 +247,10 @@ def squiggle_xy(a, b, c, d, i=np.arange(0.0, 2*np.pi, 0.05)):
 # show only the outside spines
 for ax in fig11.get_axes():
     ss = ax.get_subplotspec()
-    ax.spines['top'].set_visible(ss.is_first_row())
-    ax.spines['bottom'].set_visible(ss.is_last_row())
-    ax.spines['left'].set_visible(ss.is_first_col())
-    ax.spines['right'].set_visible(ss.is_last_col())
+    ax.spines.top.set_visible(ss.is_first_row())
+    ax.spines.bottom.set_visible(ss.is_last_row())
+    ax.spines.left.set_visible(ss.is_first_col())
+    ax.spines.right.set_visible(ss.is_last_col())
 
 plt.show()