Stirrup

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the early 16th century, the fashion trend of wearing wide flaring shoes, called ‘bear paw’ style, was applied to armor as well. Consequently wider stirrups like this one were made to accommodate them. This fine example is adorned with brass ornaments, which would have shined like gold when new, a particularly popular decorative technique in German lands in the late 15th and early 16th century for spurs and stirrups. It is stamped with the maker's mark, a small bell.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art