In the early 16th century, the fashion trend of wearing wide flaring shoes, called ‘bear paw’ style, was applied to armor as well. Consequently wider stirrups like this one were made to accommodate them.
This fine example is adorned with brass ornaments, which would have shined like gold when new, a particularly popular decorative technique in German lands in the late 15th and early 16th century for spurs and stirrups. It is stamped with the maker's mark, a small bell.
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Title:Stirrup
Date:ca. 1520
Culture:German
Medium:Iron, copper alloy
Dimensions:H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); W. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 12 oz. (793.79 g)
Classification:Equestrian Equipment-Stirrups
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1955
Accession Number:55.185.3
Marking: Maker's mark in the form of a hawk's bell stamped on top of the arch.
Ex coll.: Count d'Arlincourt, Paris; Count Hector Economos, Paris; William Randolph Hearst, New YorkWilliam Randolph Hearst, St. Donat's Castle, Wales (1932–d. 1951; lot no. A.104); by descent to the International Studio Art Division, The Hearst Corporation, New York (1951–1955; inv. S/B, lot no. 1630, art. no. 5; sold on November 21, 1955, to MMA).
Allentown. Allentown Art Museum. "Arms and Armor: A Loan Exhibition from the Collection of Stephen V. Grancsay: with Important Contributions by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the John Woodman Higgins Armory, Worcester, Massachusetts," March 15–June 14, 1964, no. 23.
Seattle, Wash. Seattle Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," March 11, 1982–June 6, 1982, no. 33.
Denver, Colo. Denver Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," July 18–October 10, 1982, no. 33.
San Antonio, Tex. Witte Museum of the San Antonio Museum Association. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 13, 1982–February 5, 1983, no. 33.
Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 24–July 31, 1983, no. 33.
San Francisco. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 5, 1983–January 28, 1984, no. 33.
Detroit, Mich. Detroit Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 4–June 17, 1984, no. 33.
Allentown Art Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and John Woodman Higgins Armory. Arms and Armor: A Loan Exhibition from the Collection of Stephen V. Grancsay: with Important Contributions by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the John Woodman Higgins Armory, Worcester, Massachusetts: March 15–June 14, 1964. Allentown, Pa.: Allentown Art Museum, March 15, 1964–June 14, 1964. p. 29, no. 23.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Helmut Nickel, Stuart W. Pyhrr, Leonid Tarassuk, and American Federation of Arts. The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: An Exhibition. New York: The Federation, 1982. pp. 76–77, no. 33, ill.
Attributed to Heinrich Heid von Winterthur (probably Swiss, active Stuttgart, recorded 1453–1460)
dated 1460
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