The Carlton-in-Lindrick knight is a small (6 cm tall) bronze

figurine A figurine (a diminutive form of the word ''figure'') or statuette is a small, three-dimensional sculpture that represents a human, deity or animal, or, in practice, a pair or small group of them. Figurines have been made in many media, with clay ...

from the twelfth century, depicting a mounted

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

armed for combat. It is an important find because period depictions of mounted European knights are relatively rare.

Discovery and Acquisition

The figurine was discovered by use of a

metal detector A metal detector is an instrument that detects the nearby presence of metal. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal objects on the surface, underground, and under water. The unit itself, consist of a control box, and an adjustable shaft, ...

in 2004 in Bassetlaw,

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The trad ...

. It is currently in the Bassetlaw Museum in

Retford Retford (), also known as East Retford, is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire, England, and one of the oldest English market towns having been granted its first charter in 1105. It lies on the River Idle and the Chesterf ...

. The figurine was sought by collections outside Britain, but the

Art Fund Art Fund (formerly the National Art Collections Fund) is an independent membership-based British charity, which raises funds to aid the acquisition of artworks for the nation. It gives grants and acts as a channel for many gifts and bequests, as ...

and other funds joined with the Bassetlaw Museum to acquire it for local display.

Depiction

The figurine depicts a mounted knight of the twelfth century, apparently armed for combat, as he is holding his shield and is in full armour. Characteristic of knights of the period, he wears a

surcoat A surcoat or surcote is an outer garment that was commonly worn in the Middle Ages by soldiers. It was worn over armor to show insignia and help identify what side the soldier was on. In the battlefield the surcoat was also helpful with keeping ...

and very complete

chainmail Chain mail (properly called mail or maille but usually called chain mail or chainmail) is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. It was in common military use between the 3rd century BC and ...

. Despite these typically 12th century characteristics, his

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protect ...

is conical and he carries a kite shield, both reminiscent of depictions of Norman knights in the Bayeux Tapestry of the previous century. His warhorse wears a

caparison A caparison is a cloth covering laid over a horse or other animal for protection and decoration. In modern times, they are used mainly in parades and for historical reenactments. A similar term is horse-trapper. The word is derived from the Lat ...

In popular culture

The Carlton-in-Lindrick knight was featured in the '' Britain's Secret Treasures'' documentary shown on ITV''.''

References

Art Fund article on the figurineBassetlaw newsletter with article about the figurine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlton-In-Lindrick Knight Archaeological discoveries in the United Kingdom 2004 archaeological discoveries