Pair of Stirrups

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Each of these stirrups is made of two elements cast in bronze, with the footplate pierced with geometric elements and the sides decorated with spirals in relief, typical of traditional Nigerian metalwork. This shape of stirrups, with their long rectangular footplates and their wide flaring sides, is found in most of the Islamic world. Arab equestrian equipment spread in North Africa and then south across the Sahara desert alongside the spread of Islam itself, and was then adopted by local populations and adapted in their own styles.

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