Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Warrior Horseman Horse Saddle Stirrups

Pair of authentic antique Chinese military, late Ming Dynasty (17th century) horse saddle stirrups of characteristic form, each hand wrought russet iron arch was beautifully formed with hand sculpted dragon heads, terminals flanking the pierced strap slots and adorned at the base with hand chiselled and pierced rectangular cartouches with Chinese motifs. Oval shaped foot plates with a raised lip around the edges are hand forged separately and welded to the arches by copper. The lip around the edges of the foot plates are made separately then welded to the foot plates
 
During the Qing Dynasty were made similar types of the stirrups but cast as one piece in iron.
 
This Ming Dynasty stirrups are made of three separate elements of hand forged iron and welded together by copper:
 
1. An arch
2. foot plate
3. lip around the edge
 
DIMENSIONS (approximated)

Height: 19.5 cm (7.68 inches)
Width: 10.5 cm (4.13 inches)
 
 
WEIGHT: 1.754 kg = 3 lbs 13.87 oz.
 
CONDITION: Showing age and usage, pitted, as it is an aspect from a used 17th century antique Ming Dynasty iron stirrups that are over 370 years old.
 
REFERENCES: Dragon and Horse: Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond by Drs. Koos de Jong