Pair of Child's Stirrups

The small size of these stirrups means that they were probably made for a child. Children from wealthy families would start riding lessons as soon as they could sit on a pony, usually around the age of 3. Horsemanship was an important component of European noble society, and children of the elite were expected to master the art of equitation. Moreover, as many nobles served in the cavalry, it was essential for them to be skillful riders by the time they were old enough to go to war.

The general features of these stirrups, as well as their pierced decoration, are inspired from 16th-century German types, imported to Spain through the regular artistic and trading exchanges between these regions due to their dynastic relationships. However, the large footplates and wide flaring sides are typically Spanish, and are inspired from genette type stirrups, particularly popular in Spain. Genette, or jineta, stirrups are typical of the Islamic world, and were widely used in the Ottoman empire at the same time. They were introduced to Europe during the Arab presence in Spain, and then kept by the Spaniards for their light cavalry.