Ancient Greek Bronze bow brooch (Phrygian type) - 65 mm

Ancient Greek Bronze Bow Brooch (Phrygian Type)

Culture / Period: Ancient Greek
Date / Period: 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 65 mm
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 684

The current owner purchased the Ancient Greek bronze bow brooch (Phrygian type) from a private collector, N.N.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This bronze bow brooch belongs to the Phrygian type, a distinctive fibula widely used throughout the Greek world and western Anatolia during the Early Iron Age and Archaic period. Its pronounced arched bow, moulded collars, and decorative terminals are characteristic features of this long-established design, reflecting the high standard of bronze craftsmanship achieved during the period.

Fibulae were indispensable elements of ancient dress, used to fasten cloaks, mantles, and tunics worn by both men and women. Besides their practical purpose, they also served as ornaments that expressed regional traditions and personal taste. The decorative mouldings on examples such as this demonstrate that even functional objects were carefully designed and skilfully executed.

Originating in Phrygia in central Anatolia, this fibula type spread widely through trade and cultural contact across the eastern Mediterranean. Skilled bronze workers produced these brooches using established casting techniques, and comparable examples have been recovered from settlements, sanctuaries, and burials throughout Greece, Asia Minor, and the Balkans. Their broad distribution illustrates the interconnected nature of the ancient Greek world.

Dating to the 8th–6th century B.C., this brooch belongs to a period of expanding commerce, technological innovation, and artistic development. It provides a direct and tangible connection to the people of antiquity, for whom such objects were essential items of everyday clothing while reflecting the shared craftsmanship and cultural traditions of the ancient Mediterranean.