Pair of Stirrups

Location: probably Ghaznavid

Materials: bronze, cast, with punched and engraved decoration

Dimensions: 14 x 15.5cm

Accession Number: MTW 1512

Other Notes:

Stirrups originated among the horse-riding nomads of the Central and Inner Asian steppes well before the coming of Islam. The present type, with flat feet, rounded arches and a rectangular bracket for the stirrup strap, is to be associated with Afghanistan, or perhaps north India, in the Ghaznavid period.

Bibliography:

J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.212, p.181.