Another intruiging part of the Viking Age horse equestrian equipment: the horse harness fitting.
I will use 'horse harness fitting' as this is the term used by the Portable Antiques Scheme. There appears to be a 'tree' of terms to describe these kind of artefact, as : horse harness strap distributor, horse harness strap fitting, horse bridle fitting, horse harness strap junction, horse harness strap joiner, horse harness cheeck piece and even horse harness mount..
These horse harness strap fittings are an 11th century feature within England, and can be addressed 'Viking-Age' although stylistically they are addressed in the hybrid Anglo-Scandinavian style. A thorough, recent, publication to these specific type of equestrian equipment seems to be lacking but there is the publication of the - regrettably - late David Williams Anglo-Scandinavian horse harness fittings (2007) of the Finds Research Group, volume II: Datasheets 25-40.
The book 'The medieval horse and its equipment' - Medieval finds from excavations in London c. 1150 - c. 1450 AD by John Clark regrettably isn't addressing this type of harness artefact.
The horse harness fitting was part of the bridle of the horse, and like stirrup mounts and terminals and horse harness pendants were executed in a very adorned style. On the drawing right above is seen the several types of hores harness fittings/junctions/strap deviders wich were part of the horse harness equipment.
The first horse harness fitting is showing a somewhat gruesome face. Copper alloy, 31.13 grams; 71.23 mm. Circa 10th century AD. An excellent rare example of the usually plain strap junctions of this period, this one having the two sections divided by a gruesome horned head of what is most likely to be the Viking god Loki. Each of the end terminals that would have received the straps is detailed with three raised circular turrets. These terminals are shaped like buckles of the period, possibly doubling as a pendant hanger from between the jaws. Ref: for similar strap junctions see, Benet’s Artefacts of England & the United Kingdom; page 329. Very fine condition.
Published in: British Artefacts, Volume 2 - Middle Saxon and Viking, p. 87, fig. 1.9-g by Brett Hammond (2010).
Regrettably, the find spot is unknown..
In most Norse myths, Loki is portrayed as a prankster and a trickster. His misadventures often involve creating great problems for the Norse gods and for the inhabitants of the other worlds. When things seemed at their very worse, Loki often provided the remedy to save the day. His loyalty was often torn between the giants and the gods of Asgard and in trying to please both, he often found himself in deep trouble. Because of his wit and his cunning and mischievous character, Loki earned the name "God of Mischief". He was also considered the "God of Fire". Loki really couldn't help but be crafty. He had magical powers no other giant or anyone outside of the Asgard had. He could travel freely between the various Norse worlds and often accompanied Odin and Thor on their journeys and adventures throughout the universe. The gods often sought his advice, yet when they followed his plan, he sometimes tricked them into dangerous situations.
Although the addressing to the god Loki is very (Timeline) speculative, I added the describtion accompanying the object by the sale.
The second horse harness fitting is showing us a seemingly hybrid man/bear like face.
The third horse harness fitting is shwing us a very much cat-like image. It is a rare harness fitting, as it is complete. 99% of the horse harness fittings being found are broken or partly broken, due to their delicateness and a 'rough use' would have broke them off easily.
The fourth harness fitting is showing us a bat (or cat) like imagery.
The fifth harness fitting is an intriguing one. The 'mask' face is recalling images on stones from Denmark as the Sjellebro stone and the Aarhus mask stone, although in a very deformed way.. I have never seen this specific type of horse harness strap joiner before and it would have a very special meaning regrettably only known by the smith and its owner..
The last horse harness fitting luckily has a far better provenance, having been found in more recent times obviously, and is recorded to the pas under
record ID: NARC-4E52F4 - EARLY MEDIEVAL harness fitting (finds.org.uk).
At first being addresse Anglo-Saxon, it now had is being described as Anglo-Scandinavian, wich sounds logical to me, given the Anglo-Scandinavian types of other harness fittings being found and the 11th century date of them. It is a one-off imagenery of a male face. No other harness fittings are know to me, showing an outspoken human face.