EARLY MEDIEVAL STIRRUP

1000

The object is an Early Medieval stirrup mount. Stirrup mounts connected the leather strap of the harness to the stirrup. These mounts are thought to date to the 11th century. Williams (Williams, D. 1997 Late Saxon Stirrup Strap Mounts: A Classification and Catalogue) has produced a classification of these mounts. The recorded mount is probably a Class B mount, probably a Type 1, Group 1 type. These types of mount have three moulded heads, and openwork.In plan, the mount is a sub-trapezoidal shape. In profile, it is a sub 'L' shape, with a protruding obliquely angled flange on the lower edge. The outer face is decorated with a central moulded cat-like head. There also appears from the drawing, to be a further two zoomorphic heads, one in each upper corner. There are four pairs of openwork on the mount. In the upper corners there are also a single iron rivet. On the lower edge, through the flange there is a further two iron rivets, near each corner.The mount measures 38mm long and 33mm wide. Its' thickness and weight is not recorded. Nor is the surface condition.