Pair of Stirrups
Unknown Artist
1600s
Medium
brass
Dimensions
17.2 × 12.1 cm
Classification
Arms and Armor
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
Accession Number
1919.49
About this artwork
With the aid of stirrups, the knight could rise (especially during jousts) and, buttressed against the high cantle of the saddle, bend forward in order to gain the full advantage of the weight of his own armor and that of his horse. The footplate of the stirrup gradually became wider, as shown by these examples from the 1600s.