Two Stirrups

A detailed Mongolian inscription on the base of one of the stirrups, gives the name of its maker and of the Mongolian nobleman who commissioned it. Such an inscription appears to be unique not only for a stirrup but also for any example of secular ironwork from Mongolia or Tibet, making these stirrups invaluable as a touchstone against which all other decorative ironwork of this type can be compared.

Credit: Purchase, Gift of Bashford Dean, by exchange, 2007