Pair of Stirrups (Abumi)

Inscribed by Sanemitsu Japanese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 377

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.

Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>), Inscribed by Sanemitsu (Japanese, active in Ka shū, probably 18th century), Iron, wood, silver, lacquer, paper, Japanese, Kashu

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Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>), Inscribed by Sanemitsu (Japanese, active in Ka shū, probably 18th century), Iron, wood, silver, lacquer, paper, Japanese, Kashu
Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>), Inscribed by Sanemitsu (Japanese, active in Ka shū, probably 18th century), Iron, wood, silver, lacquer, paper, Japanese, Kashu
Pair of Stirrups (<i>Abumi</i>), Inscribed by Sanemitsu (Japanese, active in Ka shū, probably 18th century), Iron, wood, silver, lacquer, paper, Japanese, Kashu

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