Curb Bit
According to contemporary equestrian manuals, this mouthpiece was designed for exercising the tongue and preventing it from relaxing completely, with the purpose of making the horse salivate. The melons, the big ribbed rolling balls, also ‘disarm’ the lips (they remove the thick lips from the bars, the part of the horses’ jaw without teeth, so that the mouthpiece can keep contact with them).
The banquets, the parts of the cheekpieces where the mouthpiece is attached, can be opened to switch out the mouthpiece, a feature particularly appreciated on dressage bits in Germany. The two rectangular loops on each side of the bit were used to attach, by the mean of spring pins, a pair of ornamental bosses.
As for the two rein rings at the bottom of each shanks, the lower one served to attach the main leather reins, while the upper ones used to hang a pair of chain reins (used as a backup if the leather breaks), a typical German feature in the 16th century.
The banquets, the parts of the cheekpieces where the mouthpiece is attached, can be opened to switch out the mouthpiece, a feature particularly appreciated on dressage bits in Germany. The two rectangular loops on each side of the bit were used to attach, by the mean of spring pins, a pair of ornamental bosses.
As for the two rein rings at the bottom of each shanks, the lower one served to attach the main leather reins, while the upper ones used to hang a pair of chain reins (used as a backup if the leather breaks), a typical German feature in the 16th century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Curb Bit
- Date: second half 16th century
- Culture: German
- Medium: Iron alloy
- Dimensions: H. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); W. 6 in. (15.2 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 15.8 oz. (901.5 g)
- Classification: Equestrian Equipment-Bits
- Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
- Object Number: 14.25.1789
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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probably German
ca. 1400–1430
Heinrich Heid von Winterthur
dated 1460
German, probably Nuremberg
ca. 1500
Kunz Lochner
dated 1549
Kolman Helmschmid
ca. 1525
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