Villanovan Late Geometric Bronze Horse Bit - Horses

Ancient Europe, Northern Italy, Villanovan culture, late Geometric Period, ca. 725 to 700 BCE. A fabulous bronze horse bit comprised of two lengths of copper-silver alloy (20% silver) rods conjoined in the center with fused loops, and with reign rings hanging in the exterior loops. Both cheek pieces are in the form of a standing horse with Geometric characteristics such has a crested mane, a cylindrical snout with a flattened end, bulging eyes, and high-pointed ears, all atop a pair of ringed feet with a sinuous tail on the verso. Atop the hind quarters of the larger horses are smaller colts with nearly-identical characteristics as the larger animals. Fine layers of green, brown, and russet patina have formed across the composition, and the original golden-brown bronze color is visible in some abraded areas. Size: 8.25" W x 3.125" H (21 cm x 7.9 cm); 3.7" H (9.4 cm) on included custom stand; quality of silver in copper-silver alloy: 20%.

For a stylistically-similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1977.187.6: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255590

Another stylistically-similar example hammered for $17,625 at Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 9666, June 8, 2001, lot 23): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-villanovan-bronze-horse-bit-circa-8th-7th-2063316-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=2063316&sid=ae46a05e-8e66-40b9-9170-34deabd1f0ed

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection, acquired in 2017; ex-Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 3798, December 9, 2015, lot 40 [unsold]); ex-Vincent Carrozza collection, Texas, USA, acquired in 1981 from Merril C. Rueppel, Needham, Massachusetts, USA; ex-Dr. Elie Borowski collection, Switzerland, Israel, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, acquired between 1968 and 1981

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#146821
Condition Report: Repairs to one outer ring, head of one horse, and tails of both horses, with light resurfacing and adhesive residue along break lines. Loss to ear of one horse, with minor nicks and abrasions to all horses and bit rods, and light encrustations within some recessed areas. Light earthen deposits as well as great green, brown, and russet patina throughout.