Pair of Stirrups

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This pair of stirrups is of a type called estribos de campana in Spanish, which translates to bell stirrups. Extremely popular in Argentina, they evolved from 18th-century baroque stirrups imported from Spain. The richest examples are usually chiseled in silver, while more modest stirrups like this pair were made of cast iron.

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