Pair of Stirrups
Unknown Artist
early 17th century
Medium
Copper alloy, gold
Dimensions
Stirrup (a); H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm); D. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 10.9 oz. (762.6 g); stirrup (b); H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm); D. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 0.8 oz. (759.8 g)
Classification
Equestrian Equipment-Stirrups
Culture
Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.1756a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pair of stirrups, crafted in early 17th-century Italy by an unknown artist, exemplifies the fusion of functionality and luxury in equestrian equipment. Made from copper alloy—a durable material akin to bronze—and adorned with gold, these stirrups measure about 6½ inches tall and weigh over a pound each, designed to support riders during mounted combat or travel. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Armor Department, they were generously gifted by William H. Riggs in 1913. In Renaissance and early Baroque Italy, stirrups were essential for cavalry and nobility, enablin...