STIRRUP

An incomplete copper-alloy stirrup strap mount of Williams' Class A, type 3 (Williams 1997, 36-38, fig 25). This strap mount is roughly triangular in shape measuring 50.7mm in lenght and 30.7mm in width, at its widest point, which is its slightly swollen centre. The apex loop of this strap mount is incomplete due to an old break, it has a right angled flange projecting back from its lower edge with two incomplete fixing holes, both of these characterists classify this strap mount as Williams Class A (Williams 1997, 2 fig 1).

It is decorated in the style of type 3, ten other mounts are known of this unusual type. The decoration is open work and consists of a standing central facing male figure standing with his arms and legs apart with his feet facing the viewer. The man appears to be naked, on parallels from Sherbourne St John and Chicester, Sussex, details of the nipples, ribs and navel are clear (Williams 1997 36), however our example is too worn for such detail to be seen but is likely to follow the same stylised design. Around the mans waist there is an M-like form from which a rod like shape projects and then expands into a rounded bulb and then contracts to terminate between his feet, there are two circular perforations through the top half of this rod like shape.

Flanking the figure is pair of ribbon like serpents which entwine the once around the figure's legs and whose open jaws gape either side of the man's head. With his hands the figure grasps the snakes. Behind the trunk of the figure but passing in front of his arms is a splayed animal, with its head probably to the right and its tail to the left of the man. The head seems to be grasping the body of the snake in its mouth although this is unclear. The apex loop emerges from the mans head. This example is perhaps most similar to parallel from Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk and Polegate, East Sussex (Williams 1997, 37-39).