A choice Near Eastern bronze horse bit, c. 9thy - 7th Century BC, each cheek piece cast in the form of a striding horse on a groundline, with a narrow muzzle and large oval eyes, wearing a collar with a bell around its neck, two rings on the back of each for attachment, a large circular perforation at the center for the thick bit, with round profile and coiled at each ends. Width of bit: 8 1/8 in (20.9 cm), each horse roughly 5 ½ in x 3 ½ in (14 x 8.9 cm). A very well-preserve example with attractive patination and nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Cf. Moorey, Catalogue of Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. (Oxford, 1971), p. 114, no. 119 for a near identical example. Ex Sussex, UK private collection. Acquired in the 1960's

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