Find Spot record 5691 - Medieval stirrup fragment from Malpas

An incomplete cast copper alloy stirrup dating to the Medieval period, (1100-1500). The object consists of a hollow case cover-plate at the top of the artefact and one side of the stirrup. The cover-plate is 43mm in width, 24mm long and 10mm thick. The front of the object is decorated with three raised vertical ridges, of which the central ridge protrudes outwards the most. On either side of the ridges, bordering each side of the face of the plate are small horizontal zig-zag grooves. At the top of each half of the plate is a tri-lobed perforation. The reverse of the cover-plate consists of an undecorated strip of copper alloy which is slightly curved at the top. The strip measures 10mm in length and is 3mm thick.

Extending out from the left side of the cover-plate the main body of the stirrup with in-curving sides splays outwards in a smooth curve, before moving inwards again where it terminates in a break. The stirrup is D-shaped in cross section. There is an irregular V-shaped groove approximately 55mm down from the cover-plate where the stirrup begins to flatten out. A horizontal ridge separates the stirrup from the cover-plate. On the right side the stirrup has broken away below the ridge.

The object has a dark brown patina and is in good condition. Similar examples can be found on p.90, Read, (1988). Similar examples which can be found on the database are WMID-B14747 and LVPL-0A4736. The object can be dated to the 14th century.
Date: from Circa 1300 AD (Certain) to Circa 1400 AD (Certain)
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Cast
Length: 115 mm
Width: 43 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 50.7 grams
Preservation: Good
Completeness: Incomplete

Portable Antiquities Scheme, Various, Portable Antiquities Data Import (Digital Archive). SCH5212.