Bit Boss with Apollo and Aurora
The central part of this bit boss depicts Apollo on his quadriga flying over the figure of Aurora lying on clouds, with wreaths of flowers in her hand. This scene is probably copied or inspired from an unidentified medal or a luxury prototype made by a German goldsmith.
German bronze founders would regularly use Italian medals or plaquettes as models for their works, including bosses, like this one, which decorated the sides of horse bits. They also produced similar decorative elements for powder flasks, staff weapons or even pistols. This scene seems to have been a common design for bit bosses and plaquettes made in Southern Germany in the second half of the 16th century.
German bronze founders would regularly use Italian medals or plaquettes as models for their works, including bosses, like this one, which decorated the sides of horse bits. They also produced similar decorative elements for powder flasks, staff weapons or even pistols. This scene seems to have been a common design for bit bosses and plaquettes made in Southern Germany in the second half of the 16th century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bit Boss with Apollo and Aurora
- Date: late 16th century
- Culture: South German
- Medium: Copper alloy, gold
- Dimensions: Diam. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); Wt. 2.3 oz. (65 g)
- Classification: Equestrian Equipment-Bits
- Credit Line: Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942
- Object Number: 42.50.167
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Johann Michael Maucher
I. C. Schefl
ca. 1685
Johann Michael Maucher
ca. 1680–90
Heinrich Heid von Winterthur
dated 1460
German
15th century
German
12th century
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