Curb Bit

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metal curb bit for a horse. The bit has a curved, hinged mouthpiece made of two pieces of metal that are connected in the middle. The mouthpiece has a slight curve and a flat, wide surface where it meets the horse's mouth. The two ends of the mouthpiece are attached to the cheek pieces with small metal rings and chains. The cheek pieces are long, thin, and straight with a slight curve at the top. They have small metal loops at the top for attaching to a horse's bridle. The bit has a pair of long, thin shanks that extend down from the cheek pieces. The shanks are connected by two chains that form a triangle shape. The bottom of each shank has a small metal ring. The background is a solid gray color.