STIRRUP

An ornate openwork stirrup-strap mount of 11th-century date. The mount is notable for its anthropomorphic design; it features a central, facing, male figure surrounded by zoomorphic motifs. The central figure's head is in high relief, and bears traces of what may have been a beard or moustache, as well as a hairline or stylised helmet. The figure is naked, and some effort has been made to suggest muscle tone in the torso. The figure's arms and legs are apart, and around his upper legs lies some form of girdle, with an M-shaped profile. Below this hangs a straight rod (possibly a phallus),which terminates between the figure's feet, which are rather rather crudely rendered, being three-toed, and grasping the horizontal base in a manner comparable to bird claws. The figure is flanked by a pair of rudimentary serpents, whose tails entwine the figure's legs, with their heads (characterised by gaping mouths and bulging eyes) either side of the that of the central figure. The serpents' bodies are grasped by the central figure's hands,and an unclear zoomorphic motif lies horizontally behind the arms of the man. Comparison with Williams (1997) no. 70 (which is slightly clearer), suggests that this animal lies with its tail and hind legs to the left, and its head and forelimbs to the right, where it bites the body of the serpent. The figure stands on a flat base, pierced by two circular perforations, and the upper suspension loop (now broken away), emerges from behind the figure's head. The mount is in excellent condition, with an even green-brown patina. Williams 1997:36-39) describes ten examples of this form, though most are degenerate or poor imitations. The present find sits with the more accomplished examples, such as that from Sherborne St. John (Williams, ref. 70). Other examples of this type display grooves intended for niello and silver wire ornament, and the Northamptonshire mount has grooves and facets on the lower sections of the serpents' bodies, but otherwise displays no clear evidence of such decoration.