Late Anglo-Saxon/Early-Medieval copper-alloy stirrup strap mount, c. late 10th-11th Century AD from Ovington, Itchen Stoke and Ovington, Hampshire.The mount is generally trapezoidal and has openwork decoration with a central zoomorphic motif. The type o

Late Anglo-Saxon/Early-Medieval copper-alloy stirrup strap mount, c. late 10th-11th Century AD from Ovington, Itchen Stoke and Ovington, Hampshire.The mount is generally trapezoidal and has openwork decoration with a central zoomorphic motif. The type of creature represented is unclear, perhaps a griffin/lion but the creature is decorated with curvilinear incised lines. There are two parallel lateral incised grooves along the top edge on the upper surface, divided by two circular holes also arranged laterally. The reverse is flat and undecorated. There are a further two circular holes on the flange, again arranged laterally, slightly off centre. The object is relatively thin at the top, becoming thicker, then thinning again at the flange. The object has been heavily cleaned so that the original patina is now lost.

Stirrup mount

Anglo-Saxon, late 10th-11th century AD

Found with a metal detector at Ovington, Hampshire

This copper-alloy mount was once attached to the leather strap that supported an Anglo-Saxon horse rider's stirrup. It would have helped to prevent the leather strap from fraying where it met the stirrup, as well as being decorative. Perhaps it become loose and fell off as a horseman crossed the field where it was later discovered. The mount is decorated with an animal design (also described as zoomorphic). The animal faces to the left and could be a stylised lion, or a mythical beast.

Late Anglo-Saxon/Early-Medieval copper-alloy stirrup strap mount, c. late 10th-11th Century AD from Ovington, Itchen Stoke and Ovington, Hampshire.The mount is generally trapezoidal and has openwork decoration with a central zoomorphic motif. The type o