Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>)

Sanemitsu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The form of these luxurious stirrups is known traditionally as hato mune (pigeon breast). They are completely covered with finely inlaid silver decoration, demonstrating the supreme level of craftsmanship achieved by their otherwise unknown maker, Sanemitsu. The beautiful designs include Chinese lions, peonies, and a waterfall flowing into a brook. This is the only known pair of stirrups to use raised silver dots as a technique to highlight and accentuate the decoration. The stirrups were made in Kashu (now Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture), probably under the patronage of the Maeda clan, lords of Kaga and one of the most powerful families in Japan at the time.

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