Curb Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

According to equestrian manuals, this mouthpiece, with its rounded elements called melons, was designed to ‘disarm’ the lips (they remove the thick lips from the bars, the part of the horses’ jaw without teeth, so that the mouthpiece can keep contact with them). The bit, decorated with chiseled vegetal and grotesque Renaissance designs, would have been used during parades or luxurious equestrian games. It would have been combined with a richly decorated horse tack, possibly displaying similar ornaments. Though the mouthpiece, the chain between the shanks, and the swivel rein rings, may incorporate some old elements, they are modern replacements.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art