Figurines Data

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ID	930
Images	No image in database
Grid Ref	TM0419
Project type	Metal detector
County	Essex
Site	Fingringhoe
Site Type	Unknown
Location Type	Unknown
Context	Unknown
Context Quality	1
Object Date	C1-2
Object Period	2
Material	Bronze
Other finds from site	Horse (933)
Location	returned to finder
Ref No	ESS-336AA1
M/F	Male
Form	Figurine
Type	Composite
Name	Horse and rider
Bearded	No
Standing/Seated	Seated
Headgear	Helmet
Clothed	Yes
Clothing description	Tunic
Drapery	No
Condition	Rider only, lower legs missing
Classical	0
Quality	Stylised 2
Photo	Yes
Illustration	No
Height	47.82
Length	0.00
Parallels	Torksey (825)
References	PAS database. [Link to Bibliography]
Description	The figure is quite crude. The head is globular but flattened and is 10.52mm long and 6.16mm thick. It is moulded so that the figure appears to be wearing a helmet above, to the rear of the head and to either side of his face, with no embellishments such as a crest or ear flaps. The eyes are simple incised, large circles and a simple, horizontal incised line represents the mouth. The face is now damaged, but the nose, which now appears absent, may have been formed from a raised ridge. The figure has its right arm raised and its left arm down. The right arm is thin and a flattened oval in section and is 18.74mm long and 3.58mm wide. The hand detail is missing and it now tapers to a blunt point. The left arm is also suboval in section but much broader and disproportionate to the right, being 16.36mm long and 5.74mm wide. The hand is also missing and it too ends in a blunt point. It is possible that the raised arm once held a spear and the lowered arm a shield. The torso of the figure is subrectangular in section, flaring slightly at the waist. A grooved line around the waist and to the front of the neck gives the suggestion of the rider's tunic. Grooved lines on the left arm that suggest the drapes of fabric support this idea. Beneath the rider's waist, the lower figure creates an inverse U shape. The thighs of the rider are wide and the rear extends to the back, giving the impression that the torso is attached to a saddle. However, lugs extending from the saddle are presumably the rider's truncated legs, suggesting that the thighs and rear are simply exaggerated for the figure to sit securely on the horse. It may also be plausible that the saddle-like lower half represents the flare of a tunic skirt from which the legs extend, especially as there is a grooved line between the top of the legs and the tunic hem. The legs are truncated and are little more than blunted lugs and no more than 5mm long in each case. Apart from the incised lines, the figure is plain. . . Much of the original surface survives with a mid green patina, with exposed surfaces showing as slightly lighter. There are some patches of browny corrosion product. Break edges are worn, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity (PAS).
PAS id	ESS-336AA1