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Spanish Colonial Iron Cross Stirrups

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Tack - Stirrups Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Spanish Colonial Iron Cross Stirrups
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19th Century stirrups, Estribo De Cruz (Stirrup of the Cross) fine forged floral design work, signed by the blacksmith. 7 1/2" x 13" inches.

Cruciform stirrups date from the 1600s-1700s, deriving the name from their shape — that of the Latin Cross. Though popularized by the earliest colonialists in Mexico, they actually originated with the Moors, who brought them to Spain with their invasion in 711 A.D. Since these highly decorative stirrups have some resemblance to the Miter Cap of a Bishop, the Church declared that they were sacrilegious and took steps to outlaw their usage. Usually they are found with the horizontal and vertical bars trimmed to comply with the edict of the Church. It is believed that these were used by the Spanish conquistadors as weapons against the hapless natives that they conquered.