A PAIR OF JAPANESE SILVER-INLAID IRON STIRRUPS

A PAIR OF JAPANESE SILVER-INLAID IRON STIRRUPS, ABUMI

EDO PERIOD, 17TH CENTURY

Of typical form, decorated with flowering branches of peony inlaid in brass, shinchu hirazogan, and silver, nunome zogan, the inside with wood linings covered in red lacquer, both with a three character mark for Shigetami / Chomin saku, both 26cm. (2)

Only high-ranking individuals could ride horses during the Edo period. This type of finely decorated stirrups became hugely popular then, when higher status warriors such as daimyos and their retinue would use them to reflect their social position.