BRIDLE FITTING

An incomplete cast copper-alloy bridle cheek-piece of 11th-century date. The fragment measures 52mm by 27.8mm by 5.6mm and weighs 36.9g. It is very worn but there is are two old breaks at one end; between these is part of the original central circular hole for the bit. There is a decorative circular opening. One face is decorated with the head of a Ringerike-style beast in profile, facing right, with a flowing mane. Such decoration suggests that this is a type 1 cheek piece (see for example BH-FEBCD7, a broad parallel from Ware, Hertfordshire). The reverse face, has two concave mouldings, but is otherwise undecorated. Although this example is rather thick, both Kevin Leahy and David Williams have confirmed the identification. Williams suggests that the object is likely to date to the mid 11th century and is typical of its type.

Compare SOMDOR-ED68B8 for a better-preserved cheek-piece from Somerset, with incised Ringerike-style decoration.