Bridle connector

This bronze harness fitting showcases the refined craftsmanship of Western Zhou metalworkers. Cast in an X-shaped form, it features a central human face encircled by four animal masks. This deliberate arrangement—placing the face at the nexus of powerful zoomorphic figures—strongly suggests the figure’s divine or protective identity. The lively, curling motifs and deep green patina reveal both artistic skill and centuries of burial. Functional yet symbolic, the connector once adorned a horse’s bridle, reflecting the prestige of mounted elites and the spiritual significance attributed to animal imagery in early Chinese art.