Bridleless Curb Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

According to contemporary equestrian manuals, the mouthpiece of this bit was designed for a horse with a thick tongue and an insipid mouth (meaning that the horse does not ‘taste’ its bit, so by rolling the rings on its bars, the toothless part of its mouth, it will make the horse salivate). The curious system at the back of the cheekpieces, connected to the bosses, was used for pinching the upper lip between the tab and the back of the purchase, allowing this bit to be used without the need of a headstall to hanging it. These rare bridleless curb bits, described in some equestrian manuals written in the second half of the 16th century, were certainly somewhat experimental, and only used in non-military contexts. They seem to have been invented, and probably mostly used, in Germany.

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