EARLY MEDIEVAL BRIDLE FITTING

1020

Part of an openwork bridle cheekpiece of mid 11th century date. The object forms one side of a symmetrical cheekpiece and the thickness tapers inwards slightly from bottom to top. On the right hand side in the accompanying view is the edge of the circular aperture in which the end of the bit was fitted. The engraved ornament is in the Ringerike style, and describes an intertwined ribbon-like beast whose head is visible in profile at the top left. The body is formed of single and double strands and there is a terminating tendril at the bottom. The right hand side of the object together with the projecting bar and loop are all missing. The Ringerike style is the penultimate phase of late Viking-age art, and was used for most of the 11th century.This object has been published in Geake (2006, 291; fig. 6f; see fig. 6g for a reconstruction drawing) and in Williams (2007, 3; fig. 3b).