DepartmentLatin America

Stirrup

NameStirrup

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Place collectedPeru, South America

MediumBrass

Dimensions5 1/2 × 4 3/4 × 9 7/16 in. (14 × 12 × 24 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1957.14

Object numberA5.1957.14

DescriptionThis cast-brass sabot-shaped stirrup looks as if made in one piece covering rider's foot back to the heel, with the two side plates connected by a cylindrical post at the top cast separately. Aperture has small holes around edges to allow leather lining to be sewn in, which is still present, originally rawhide with hair on it on work side--although showing signs of hard usage. A dressed, black leather binding is sewn around the rim making a neat finish. Brass shoe is fairly thinwalled with high relief ornaments along sides and top. Top has a central rosette and scrolls around it with trefoil endings. Sides have relief scroll at back and assymetrical spray of leaves and florets, in as high as 4 mm. relief. This was apparently cast and then finished with hand chiseling and polishing. In style of ornament it is hard to be sure if this is an 18th century speciman, or a later, late 19th century reproduction, although it has had enough wear to preclude its being a recent casting for tourist sale. In "Plateria Sudamericana," A. Taullard, Buenos Aires, 1941, Fig. 301 shows a comparabale "stirrup-sandal" of bronze, worn by General San Martin. (Revolution and liberation of Peru, 1822.) This stirrup, however, has longer, lower lines justifying the term "sandal," and so is less sabot-like and less chunky, the toe is less turned up. The relief ornamentation is purely Empre, while that of A5.1957.14 may be classed as Louis 16--Directoire--or a 2nd Empire rendering of the same style. The side plates to hold leathers on A5. 1957.14 with a lyre-shaped motif containing small rosettes fits into the Empire classic design series as does the rosette on top of foot, but the side scrolls do not. Hence, without other material for comparison which is dated, we have the possibility that this design may be assigned to 1780, or 1860.