Antique Spanish Colonial Bronze Slipper Stirrups Pair 19th C South American Estribos

Details

Description

A stunning matched pair of antique Spanish Colonial bronze slipper stirrups — estribos — almost certainly 19th century South American … Read more A stunning matched pair of antique Spanish Colonial bronze slipper stirrups — estribos — almost certainly 19th century South American origin. These are exceptional objects that command a room, equally at home in a serious antique collection, an equestrian estate, or as dramatic sculptural elements in an interior with genuine depth and character.
Acquired from a private estate in the Boca Raton, Florida area — in the heart of the Palm Beach equestrian corridor anchored by Wellington's renowned international polo and show jumping community.
Please take a look at the photos. This is a beautiful pair. They are not perfect. They were apparently loved and used — and that is precisely what makes them extraordinary.
Rare working examples — not display pieces.
Unlike most surviving Spanish Colonial estribos which appear to be ceremonial or decorative objects, these stirrups bear unmistakable evidence of actual working use. Original pitch cushioning survives intact in the toe of each stirrup. Use-wear patina variation tells the story of functional contact over many years of riding. The hand-finished ventilation cuts are the work of a craftsman making something meant to be used, not admired. These were on a horse. In South America. Generations ago. That history is written all over them.
The patina is the story.
Deep, layered, crystalline — malachite and cuprite crystal formation built over centuries and dramatically enriched by long-term outdoor exposure in South Florida's extreme climate. High humidity cycling, salt air, and intense subtropical heat create exactly the conditions that drive this extraordinary level of crystalline bronze oxidation. The patina is dimensional, textured, almost organic. It continues across every surface including interior walls invisible to casual inspection. This is not a finish. This is centuries of chemistry made beautiful.
Scale and presence.
Each stirrup weighs 3.22 lbs — 6.44 lbs for the pair — and measures 11 inches toe to heel. These are not delicate objects. They are heavy, substantial, and visually commanding from across a room. The interior shell/fan relief casting is crisp and confident — the work of a skilled period foundry.
Details that matter:

Hand-cut triangular vents, individually finished, slightly irregular — colonial hand craftsmanship
Warm reddish-brown high-copper bronze visible at vent edges — genuine period alloy
Matched pair, not perfectly identical — correct for hand-cast colonial production
Original pitch/tar residue intact in both toes — extraordinary survival of original functional material

Dimensions (each):

Toe to heel: 11"
Interior platform: 8"
Opening: 4" front, 3.5" heel
Height: 6"
Bail: 2.5" x 1"
Shell relief: 3" x 2.75"
Vents: 1.5" x 1", spaced 3.5" apart
Weight: 3.22 lbs each

Provenance: Private estate, Boca Raton, Florida area — in the heart of the Palm Beach equestrian corridor anchored by Wellington's world-renowned international polo and show jumping community.
Note: Not formally appraised. Sold as described. Every physical characteristic is consistent with genuine antique Spanish Colonial bronze work. Buyers are encouraged to conduct independent assessment.

CONDITION:
These stirrups are completely untouched and unrestored. The original crystalline verdigris patina is fully intact across all surfaces including interior walls. Original pitch/tar residue survives in the toe of both stirrups. There has been no cleaning, polishing, or intervention of any kind. The pair is not perfectly identical — consistent with hand-cast colonial production. Please examine all photos carefully as they are part of the description. Sold exactly as acquired from the estate.

Shipping: Free. Seller handled. See less