Two Stirrups

Unknown

16th–17th century · Iron, gold, silver · Arms and Armor

A detailed Mongolian inscription on the base of one of the stirrups, gives the name of its maker and of the Mongolian nobleman who commissioned it. Such an inscription appears to be unique not only for a stirrup but also for any example of secular ironwork from Mongolia or Tibet, making these stirrups invaluable as a touchstone against which all other decorative ironwork of this type can be compared. The inscriptions, as translated by Dr. Johan Elverskog, reads: Kiya Darkhan made this stirrup [adorned] with dragons on the second day of the new moon of the fifth month of the yi-sheep year for Oboodai Taiji. The date yi-sheep is a combination of the Chinese ten stems and the Mongol 12 animal cycle, corresponding to 1595, 1655, or 1715.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th–17th century

Medium

Iron, gold, silver

Culture

Mongolian or Tibetan

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Purchase, Gift of Bashford Dean, by exchange, 2007