12th-16th AD Medieval Horse Equipment Stirrup Spur Horseshoe Girth Buckle
A rare and exceptionally presented collection of medieval iron horse equipment, professionally mounted and framed as a complete display, with each piece individually labeled. The frame itself is inscribed "Excavated in Germany" and "Medieval Horse Equipment 12th to 16th Century A.D." — provenance and dating established by the original collector at the time of acquisition.
The display contains six pieces mounted on green felt: a medieval stirrup in remarkable condition retaining its classic arched form and footrest, a medieval spur, a substantial medieval horseshoe, two pairs of girth buckles used to secure the saddle, and an iron harness ring. Together these pieces represent the full complement of medieval equestrian ironwork and make an extraordinary ready-to-hang display for any collector of medieval arms, militaria, or equestrian history.
These items come from two lifetime collections assembled by United States Army soldiers stationed in Italy following World War II. Post-war Italy was economically devastated, and local families — drawing on their own personal collections — were selling historical items to make ends meet. These soldiers bought extensively during their time there and shipped the items back to the United States. They returned to Italy several years later to buy more, having developed a deep passion for collecting historical artifacts.
The collections passed from the soldiers to their sons, and then on to their grandsons. The items were subsequently purchased directly from one of those grandsons.
These pieces left Italy in the late 1940s to early 1950s, well before the 1970 UNESCO Convention on cultural property
selling as pictured.
more than welcome to pick up at shop in butler pa & save shipping.
022326 jy