The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 26, 2024

Pair of Stirrups

Pair of Stirrups

1600s
(?)
brass
Overall: 17.2 x 12.1 cm (6 3/4 x 4 3/4 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1919.49
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Although more fragile than non-rotating systems, the swivel suspension eye allowed the stirrup leather to stay flat against the horse’s flank when it was in use.

Description

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.
  • 1919-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 240, J36 archive.org
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. p. 56; cat. no. 80, p. 166
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 76, p. 186
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Stirrups|url=false|author=|year=1600s|access-date=26 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1919.49