Early Spanish Colonial Conquistador Solid Brass Stirrups | ||
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Posted 3 years ago
vintagelamp
(1097 items)
Early Spanish Colonial Conquistador Solid Brass Stirrups. Measure approx. 10 ½” x 5” x 5” tall.
Found today in a local antique shop
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Wow! Real nice.
Alfie,
Saw one on Sherlock's windowsill in the 1990s Granada Series, so it was a must have!
How cool are these! tiny feet?
RichmondLori,
I have to find a photo showing me just how these were worn.
Thank you!
vintagelamp, Very cool. :-)
I decided to look into these, but was troubled by some of the seemingly contradictory information about them, such as "1800s." Nineteenth century conquistadors? Huh?
Then I found this:
http://www.sportingcollection.com/stirrups/stirrup072/stirrup072.jpg
*snip*
These stirrups are known as "Conquistador" stirrups, implying that they were taken to South America when it was first colonised by the Spanish in the 16th Century. This is probably not true - as far as I can find out none are depicted in paintings of that time, and none have been found in any of the contemporary shipwrecks off the Florida coast. Also they are generally not found in Spain itself, suggesting that they were developed in South America after the colonisation.
I've also had a short Portuguese lesson from a kind Brazilian gentleman who had seen the website
"although the general meaning of "conquistador" in Portuguese is "conqueror", it is often used to mean "charming" (as a gent willing to conquer ladies' hearts). Unless these stirrups were meant specifically for military use I would bet the last one to be the correct meaning. ... some Eberle products (late 19th, early 20th c.) used to have quite romantic names."
Another contribution (thank you) said :
At flea market years ago, I was told that there are two versions of these stirrups. The Conquistador model stirrups were made from melted church bells and have a nice "ring" to them when thumped. The other , slightly plainer model was made from melted down cannons by the troops of the Emperor Maximilian, and are therefore a couple of hundred years "younger"...
*snip*
https://www.sportingcollection.com/stirrups/conquistadors.html#conquistador
So they're still very cool, but not conquistador stirrups in the sense that many might think.
More:
*snip*
A pair of brass or bronze "Conquistador" style stirrups. (More information about Conquistador stirrups here). These stirrups are very heavy and have been used - the bars where the stirrup leathers attached are rather worn. This particular pair are made of brass, they are quite plain with only "strap" decoration - such stirrups can be very ornate with shell or floral motifs. They are not stamped . The shape of the stirrups prevents the rider getting their foot trapped through the stirrup, and gives some protection from undergrowth (& weapons). There is a circular hole in the base of each, which would allow water to drain out.
*snip*
https://www.sportingcollection.com/stirrups/stirrup036/stirrup036.html
As to the size, I imagine that as long as they were wide and tall enough to permit a rider to get their forefeet into them, that would have been fine.
keramikos,
Thank you for all of that wonderful information! I was going to change the title, but I don't know what to call them now (?)
I only bought them because I saw one in a Sherlock Holme's episode on the windowsill :). I appreciate all of this and found it very interesting!
vintagelamp, You're welcome. :-)
If you want to change the title of the post, how about "Iberian New World Colonial Era Brass Stirrups?"
Hmmm. Eh, that probably needs some work, huh? };-)
Maybe add something to the write-up about the term "Conquistador."
Which makes me want to add a little mood music:
Conquistador - Procol Harum 1976 Live!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rr9Ys2kXh0
I guess a better ordering of the adjectives might be "Colonial Iberian New World Brass Stirrups."
Dunno, trying to encompass Spain, Portugal, North America, and South America.
keramikos,
Thank you! Love that group! I think that your explanation will suffice on these "watch-a-ma-call-its." Hey...that's a great title...