|
19TH CENTURY MEXICAN VAQUERO BRIDLE BIT
– SILVER INLAYED – COMPLETE WITH CURB AND REIN CHAINS –
VERY NICE SPECIMEN:
This is a very nice example
of the type of bridle bits used by the 19TH
Century Mexican Vaqueros or cowboys, and popular by
cowboys in the United States, particularly along the
border. It features genuine silver inlays, not German
or nickel silver, but coin quality silver.
Measuring 7 ˝” tall, 5” wide, this bit is well made,
retaining its original form with no bending or
misshaping. The iron has naturally aged to an even plum
brown patina, however there is no significant pitting
and overall the bit retains smooth, even surfaces.
The full lengths of the side bars, including the
dome-shaped bosses at the ends of the mouth piece, are
inlayed with bands of silver. All of the silver inlays
are intact with none missing or defaced.
The iron mouth piece is inlayed on the tongue side (as
it sits in the horse’s mouth) with three copper bands at
each end of the bar, applied to “sweeten” the taste of
the bit – evidence that this bit was made for, and used
by, a true horseman who understood the importance of
such a feature. The use of copper on the mouthpiece is
an old feature which made the bit more palatable to the
horse’s taste, and encouraged the horse to salivate,
thus keeping the bit lubricated. The copper panels on
the mouth piece are decorated with hand applied chased
“rocker” engraving.
The iron curb chain is full length with all the links
intact, and retaining the original iron hook for
securing the chain under the horse’s chin. There is a
second lighter weight chain between the mouthpiece and
the rein chains which is linked to the curb chain, that
served to further secure the bit in the horse’s mouth
and prevent the mount from spitting or dislodging the
bit as it lay over his tongue, rendering the bit
incapable of controlling the horse. Both iron rein
chains are full length at 13 ˝” with all the links
intact, and are complete with the original attachment
hooks riveted to the lower end of the side bars and the
original rein rings at the end for attaching leather,
braided rawhide or horsehair reins. All three chains
show the remnants to one degree or another of having
been originally plated with a thin application of
copper, most of the plating now worn away through steady
or prolonged use.
This bit has a very graceful profile despite being a
substantially strong design intended for daily use by a
working cowboy and it would be a nice addition to any
western bit collection, particularly one acknowledging
the significant contributions of the Mexican Vaqueros.
(0222) $375
|
