Curb Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This was considered as a gentle bit for starting young horses with the curb bit (bit with a leverage effect). Indeed, according to contemporary equestrian manuals, the long straight shanks (the levers on the sides of the bit to which the reins were attached) and the jointed mouthpiece with simple canons made for the most gentle combination in a curb bit. If the long shanks look impressive, their length in fact reduces their reaction time and would actually have been blocked at some point by the horse’s chest. Curb bits were also at this time used with a very light hand, the well-trained horses responding by anticipation to the slightest move of the reins. The elegant pierced decoration is typical of East German spur maker’s workshops during the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite their name, spur makers made not only making spurs, but also small equestrian hardware like bits, stirrups, muzzles, cavessons or curry-combs.

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