|
Date: |
|
Description: | A complete cast copper alloy stirrup-strap mount of later early medieval date (1000 - 1100 AD) of Williams Class A Type 2a. The stirrup strap mount is broadly sub-triangular in plan with a slight convex (domed) front and a concave rear face. The edges of the mount are bevelled. In profile the mount is sub-rectangular (D Shaped) and in cross section the mount is arched (C shaped). The mount is pierced in three places; at the apex of the mount, and two parallel holes at the base. The hole at the apex is slightly off centre and respects the decoration; it has a diameter of 2.7mm. The lower two holes are set together and have similar shaped and sized holes. On the reverse of the lower edge is a prominent integral cast sub-rectangular flange which projects at right angles from the surface of the mount. This flange forms a projecting lip, which has been abraded in burial environment. The two holes are pierced (cast) just above this flange.
The mount measures 46.6mm in length, 29.1mm width, is 5.5mm thick and weighs 15.87 grams.
The front face of the mount is decorated with a series of cast designs which can be separated into three main elements; those on the apex or head of the mount, those on the body and those at the foot. The apex element is zoomorphic in style, showing a beast (dragon or dog) which has large ears and oval eyes formed from lentoid ribs. Immediately behind this head is positioned the oval cast hole (described above). The decoration on the body is formed from raised cast ribs and consists of two stylised sinuous snake like beast which frame the edge of the mount and curve round and inwards at the base terminating in a pair of addorsed heads with crests, gaping mouths and lobed snouts. All these elements are worn and also slightly indistinct. The lower lips of the gaping mouths on each head are curled back to join with the body forming an irregular oval. Two lentoid eyes are raised on each head but are worn. Below the cast apex hole and between the two heads is a triangular lobe-like projection which has a clear and distinct internal border formed from a recess U shape line. The upper part of the lobe is also divided by a similar horizontal recessed line. From the base / lower corner of each side of the mount small cast projections extend, these are different from the decoration on the body and represent a pair of animal heads (similar to that at the apex) with indistinct cast ears and rounded snouts. It is possible to identify that at least one of the projections (right) has a small ridge which can be described as a single debased front leg. An indistinct element is present on the other (left projection) which may be a similar leg. There is no evidence of applied surface such as niello, or inlayed wires. It is possible that the two holes formed from the lips of the beasts may have held something, but not enough evidence survives to confirm this.
The reverse of the mount is undecorated and the surface is relatively irregular and poor.
The stirrup strap mount is a mid green brown colour with an even polished but worn and abraded patina on all surfaces. The abrasion is most likely to have been caused by movement in the plough soil. This has also resulted in a slight asymmetrical appearance in plan.
Similar stirrup strap mounts have been recorded by David Williams' 1997: Late Saxon Stirrup Mounts, which proposes a classification. This example clearly fits into Williams' Group A Type 2a. pp 35-36. The closest parallel to this example is from the Vintry excavation, London (cat no 65). Type 2 is a relatively small group of four mounts (a) and three debased examples (b) with a distinctly South East England and Southern East Anglia distribution. The overall style is broadly Anglo-Scandinavian in design (pages 14-16). The PAS database has recorded a further type 2a from St Andrew Ilketshall, Suffolk (SF3629) and type 2b from Firle, East Sussex (SUSS-B46BF7). These both confirm Williams?? distribution pattern. This discovery of an example from West Herefordshire is therefore important being the most westerly example of this type. | Subjects: | Strap Mount | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Reavill, Peter - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
STIRRUP
A complete cast copper alloy…
-
Stirrup
A cast copper alloy stirrup-strap…
-
Stirrup
Incomplete cast copper alloy stirrup…
-
STIRRUP
A cast copper alloy stirrup-strap…
-
STIRRUP
A cast copper alloy stirrup-strap…
-
STIRRUP
Incomplete cast copper alloy stirrup…
-
Stirrup
An incomplete copper-alloy stirrup-strap mount…
-
STIRRUP
An incomplete copper-alloy stirrup-strap mount…
-
STIRRUP
An incomplete copper-alloy stirrup-strap mount…
-
STIRRUP
A complete Early-Medieval (Anglo-Scandinavian) to…
|