Curb Bit

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a Curb Bit by an unknown artist. The curb bit has a rusty brown metal frame with a gold-painted metal bit attached. The curb bit is made up of two sidepieces that rise vertically, then bend horizontally at the top. The bit has a decorative plate on the right side with a red and gold design on a blue background. There is a small, rectangular piece attached to the top on the right and a slightly larger one on the left. The bit itself consists of two long, thin bars that extend down from the sidepieces. These bars are connected by several smaller bars and rings. The background of the image is a plain white color. The curb bit appears to be an old, ornate piece of horse-riding equipment.