Curb Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The shanks of this elegant bit are shaped as waving serpents, their bodies inlaid in silver and their eyes with red stone. More serpents adorn the slobber bar and the chains for attaching the reins. The purchases are each chiseled and decorated with a silver rose. This bit is a Mexican version of a spade bit (a type of mouthpiece from California), the spade being the flat extension at the top pressing against the horse’s palate when the reins are pulled. The small copper pendants had the purpose of "entertaining' the horse, who, by playing with it with its tongue, would salivate and relax its jaw. Moreover, copper, reacting by electrolysis with the warmth and moisture of the mouth, has a pleasant taste to horses and helps them accept the bit.

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