A rare copper-alloy Viking stirrup mount in excellent condition, dating to the first half of the 11th Century. This mount would have adorned the apex of the stirrup, protecting the leather stirrup strap on a Viking warrior's horse harness. The mount is intricately engraved with a stylised male face - probably a representation of the Norse god Odin - although very reminiscent of later medieval depictions of the Green Man. The mount belongs to Williams Class A, Type 9. On the flange are two pairs of transverse grooves each side of a single central iron rivet. The mask has a projecting nose. The frilled outer edges of the mount end in a pair of outwardly-pointing projections between which is the apex loop. A wonderful relic of this turbulent period of British history.

Dimensions: 42 mm x 36 mm.

References: David Williams, Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts - CBA Research Report 111 (1997).

Similar to this example on the PAS database: SUR-D3D6C8