EARLY MEDIEVAL STIRRUP

1000

An incomplete cast copper alloy stirrup strap mount, dating to the 11th century AD (length: 35.2mm; width at bottom: 29mm; thickness at base: 6.1mm; weight: 12.80g). A Class A, Type 11A sub-triangular mount (as classified by Williams, 1997, pages 58-67, ref nos 225-245 & 261-268). The top of the artefact and apex loop are now missing. The decorated front of the mount illustrates a central protruding image of a lion gazing upwards with his mouth open, his front leg raised and his tail curled over his back. Williams states (page 11) that lions in a similar posture can be seen in the borders of the Bayeux Tapestry as well as on manuscripts such as the 11th-century Crowland Psalter (where he looks upwards to grasp Christ's spear with his mouth), and sculptures such as the Lathbury tympanum of late 11th-century date. As the mount is incomplete, it is impossible to tell if the lion may be eating an object/ food that may be hanging from the top of the artefact. Above the base of the mount, there are two lower fixing/ rivet holes (average diameter: 4mm), which are now empty and have no indication of the rivets that would have originally been there. At the base, there is a right-angled protruding flange, but with no evidence of the remains of an iron fitting or strap on the reverse. The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with some areas of bronze disease particularly on the decorated front of the artefact and to the edges. The mount has a dark green patina.Stirrup strap mounts generally have a wide distribution within the borders of England and to an uncertain extent on the near continent. Type 11 mounts comprise the greatest number of mounts and are widespread, with a concentration of finer examples found in south-east England from Kent up to Northamptonshire. Perhaps the two finest examples are from Kent (Williams, 1997, ref nos 202-3).