Ring Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The shanks and the mouthpiece of this bit are decorated with incised and silver plated ornaments typical of Tuareg jewelry. The Tuareg are a Berber population, mostly nomadic, living in the central Saharan region. Owning a horse in this arid climate was traditionally reserved to wealthy people, for example political and religious chiefs. Indeed, contrary to the livestock, including camels, which can find their food in the wild, horses in these regions need to be fed a special diet by humans, and thus are more expensive to care of. Therefore, horses have a high social value among the Tuareg and are often adorned with expensive and highly decorated horse tack like, this bit. The ring bit is a strong instrument distinguished by the fact that the curb chain is replaced by a ring attached at the top of the mouthpiece, going around the horse’s lower jaw. The ring would press the sensitive chin of the horse when the reins are pulled. Typical of the Islamic world, ring bits were introduced to Spain during the Arab presence, and then kept by the Spaniards for their light cavalry (used in the genette or jineta riding style). Brought into the New World during the Spanish conquest, they were also commonly used in many Latin American countries until the late 19th century.

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