19th Century Pit Pony Mask

An early pit pony mask.
A superb, if poignant example, the thick stitched hide with all its original metal hardware & straps intact & retaining both its protective cast iron eye cages, a very rare feature on surviving masks.
A pit ponies or mining horses, were commonly used underground in mines from the mid-18th until the mid-20th century. The term "pony" was sometimes broadly applied to any equine working underground but most were thought to be Welsh or Shetland ponies. At the peak of the practice in around 1910, there were thought to be over 70000 ponies working the mines with an average life expectancy of just 3.5 years. People were campaigning as early as the 19th century to have the practice outlawed or regulated yet there were thought to be over 50 ponies still working the mines during the mid 1980's!
I've had a couple of these over the years, they do surface now & then but this is by far the finest one I've seen, an absolute gem.
c1890
Wear commensurate with age & use, very good overall, totally unrestored. The mask came with the hand made stand pictured & this can be included free of charge on request.
UK courier service available at £15 tracked & signed for 24 hour delivery.