Snaffle Bit
Unknown Artist
late 16th century
Medium
Iron alloy
Dimensions
H. 7 1/4 in. (18.42 cm); W. 9 5/16 in. (23.65 cm).
Classification
Equestrian Equipment-Bits
Culture
German
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean, 1928
Accession Number
29.150.155
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of Renaissance equestrian mastery with this late 16th-century Germanffle bit, a crafted piece of iron alloy now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Arms and Armor. Measuring 7 1/4 inches high and 9 5/16 inches wide, this functional yet elegantly designed bit was essential for controlling horses, featuring a jointed mouthpiece that offered precise, milder leverage compared to harsher curb bits. As part of the Bashford Memorial Collection, bequeathed in 1928, it exemplifies the seamless blend of utility and artistry in everyday military and riding gear. In late 16th-cent...