Description
This cast bronze horse bit joins two cheekpieces in the form of winged ibexes striding forward with turned heads. Incised lines decorate their curved horns and feathered wings. Rings penetrating their bodies hold the metal bit, while smaller rings on the hollow, unworked inner sides (behind the heads and hindquarters) may have held straps to secure the bit over the horse’s face. This work is said to be from Luristan, a region in western Iran known for its creation of bronze weapons, horse trappings, and standards in the Iron Age.
Provenance
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Accession Number
1980.102
Medium
bronze, cast and incised
Dimensions
Overall: 23.6 cm (9 5/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund