MEDIEVAL MOUNT

1100

An incomplete copper-alloy mount, dating from the Medieval period.The flat-sectioned mount has an oval central area, the surface of which is decorated by a six-pointed star, executed in low relief and surrounded by fields of gilt, punched arcs, and with a single such arc at its centre. One complete rectangular tab projects straight outwards from the centre point of this oval centre, with the remains of a second tab on the opposite side. The intact tab has a circular perforation, made by pushing though a piercing implement from the upper surface; the remains of a corresponding rivet hole can be seen on what survives of the other tab.Length: 43.5mm; width: 28.1mm; thickness: 0.9mm. Weight: 5.22g.The star motif with punched decoration places this mount within the group of 12th to early 13th century horse harness fittings discussed and illustrated by Steven Ashley (2002: 5-7/Fig. 6, cf nos. 7, 10, 11 and 12), although it may or may not be harness related. Ashley postulates that the common star device may be a good luck symbol derived from Halley's comet, which appeared in 1066 and is depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry (ibid. 7).