STIRRUP

A complete Early Medieval copper alloy stirrup-strap mount of Williams Class A, type 8, probably dating to c. AD 1000-1100. The stirrup-strap mount consists of a sub-triangular plate from the base of which projects backwards a rectangular angled flange, at c. 90 degrees to the plane. There is a central circular hole through the plate about one third of the way form the apex and two others near the base, above the flange. The plate is moulded with a large head at the apex facing upwards with stepped in snout and nose and small heads as at the base corners, flanking the flange. Between the heads running parallel to and creating the multiple curves of the outer edges, are a series of looped, curved and lobed lines with a large triangular lobe near the base. These are interpreted by Williams (1997) as the body, legs and wings of the creatures at the corners, although in a perhaps deliberately ambiguous effect on this example they could also be interpreted as open jawed beasts facing towards the apex with forelegs raised to the upper hole. There is a small, plain, triangular area adjacent to the base between the large lobes. On this example this has no trace of inlay although there are patinated scratches, some deep and parallel.

Dimensions: length 46.4mm; width 28.9mm; thickness 7.2mm, 4.6mm excluding the flange; weight 22.11g.

This is an example of a Williams Class A, type 8 stirrup-strap mount (1997: 47-50), typically dated to the 11th century. This is a large group with no obvious distribution pattern, although like most stirrup-strap mounts they are rare in Devon (ibid: 19).