Stirrup Seal Charm

Horses are symbols of power in China and many ancient cultures. This beautifully crafted stirrup charm is an iconic design recognizable to the modern eye, but the style looks remarkably similar to stirrups first invented thousands of years ago in Ancient Assyria and then later China. The seemingly innocuous stirrup has been described as one of the most significant inventions in the history of warfare. This wonderfully tactile miniature was originally designed as the seal (or stamp mark) of a 19th century scholar. Worn on the neck, you are linked to the strength embodied in its rich history.