Curb Bit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is probably a driving bit, used for carriage horses. This very peculiar type of mouthpiece is described in some contemporary equestrian manuals, like L'art de la cavalerie by Gaspard de Saunier (1756), as used "for preventing the tongue from going down out of the mouth, as it happens to several horses, especially to carriage horses, because of the tendency of some drivers to maintain the reins constantly tight, weakening the jaws so that the tongue goes out."

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