Pair of Stirrups

Stephen Pilcherd

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These stirrups are rare examples of a distinctive group English enameled brassware made in London in the workshops of Stephen Pilcherd and Anthony Hatch during the second half of the seventeenth century. Formed of sturdy cast brass and decorated with elaborate foliate and figural ornament picked out in a variety of colors, the majority of these wares were made for domestic use, like candlesticks and firedogs, though the rugged materials were equally well suited for equestrian equipment like stirrups and spurs.

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