Indian Horse Bit Chain

Neatly, a short chain of dark links, two of them dressed up with studded ends.

This brass horse bit chain is from India, and dates to the mid 19th or early 20th century. A bit is the part of a bridle that sits in a horse's mouth, and in India decorative chains and metal fittings were often added to harness for working and ceremonial animals. Noted first, a short chain made of oval and round links in blackened brown, linked in a row. Two links in the middle have ridged, bud-like ends. The surface is smooth with slight scuffs, and the shape lies in a straight line. It is 9.5 inches wide and 2 deep.

A small chain, with a couple of showy links.