Pair of Stirrups

Unknown

second half 17th century · iron alloy · Arms and Armor

This type of chiseled and pierced decoration was used by the spur makers in eastern Germany in the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite their name, spur makers not only made spurs, but also all the small equestrian hardware like bits, stirrups, muzzles, cavessons or curry-combs, sometimes adorned with the same intricate decoration.The swivel suspension eye allowed the stirrup leather to stay flat against the horse’s flank when the stirrup is in use, but it is more fragile than regular non-rotating systems.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second half 17th century

Medium

iron alloy

Culture

German

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929