Luristan craftsmen developed great skill in bronze working, producing some of the finest tools and weaponry then available. These include a great number of ornaments, tools, weapons, horse-fittings, as well as a smaller number of vessels. Craftsmen used very advanced techniques to produce these fine weapons which were mainly cast by using three major methods, open moulds, close moulds and lost wax castings. Luristan bronze comes from the province of Lorestan, a region situated in the Zagros Mountains.
This type of horse bit is knowns as a snaffle, which is the simplest and most usual type of bit used in horse riding. There are different types of snaffles with this fine example being one of the more simpler ones ranging to more elaborate designs. It consists of two short metal bars, a bit, which is used as a mouthpiece with a ring on either side. The function of this part is to apply direct pressure to the horse’s gums, the bar sits in a gap between the horses front teeth and their back teeth. Straps would be attached to the rings, acting as the head straps and the reins by which the rider would be able to control the horse.
To discover more about the Luristan Empire, please visit our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.