Bronze horse bit

Unknown

ca. 725–700 BCE · Bronze · Greek and Roman Art

Solid cast, with twisted mouthpiece terminating in heavy rings that orgianlly held the guide reins. The ends are flanked with open work cheek pieces depicting stylized horses with a smaller horse standing on its croup and two small birds below. An almost identical horse bit was discovered recently in the Tomb of the Warrior of Poggio alle Croci in Volterra. Several examples of this type, with elaborate cheekpieces depicting horses and ducks, are associated with Volterra, a likely place of manufacture.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 725–700 BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Late Villanovan

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Alice K. Bache, 1977