Archaic Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Protective Amulet - 25 mm
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
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Estimate € 700 - € 850
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Bronze protective amulet from the Archaic Eastern Mediterranean, dating to circa 8th–6th century BC, about 25 mm high, in good condition and authentic/original.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Archaic Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Protective Amulet
Culture / Period: Archaic Eastern Mediterranean
Date / Period: Circa 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 25 mm
Condition: Good condition
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 730
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This finely cast bronze amulet depicts a stylised anthropomorphic face with prominent pointed ears or horns and a suspension loop above the head, indicating that it was intended to be worn or suspended. Such protective amulets were widely used throughout the Eastern Mediterranean during the Archaic period, where they were believed to guard the wearer against misfortune and harmful influences.
Images of protective spirits, demons, and stylised divine beings appear in the artistic traditions of the Greek, Cypriot, Phoenician, and Levantine worlds. Their simplified yet expressive features reflect a shared visual language that developed through extensive trade, travel, and cultural interaction across the Eastern Mediterranean. Without a secure archaeological context, however, the precise cultural attribution of individual examples cannot always be determined.
Objects of this type were produced by skilled bronze workers using established casting techniques and were worn as personal talismans or attached to clothing, equipment, or other valued possessions. Their compact size and durable construction made them suitable for everyday use while conveying symbolic protection.
Dating to approximately the 8th–6th century B.C., this amulet belongs to a period of dynamic cultural exchange, when artistic motifs and religious ideas circulated widely between neighbouring societies. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where personal amulets of this kind accompanied their owners in daily life as symbols of protection and belief.
Archaic Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Protective Amulet
Culture / Period: Archaic Eastern Mediterranean
Date / Period: Circa 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 25 mm
Condition: Good condition
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 730
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This finely cast bronze amulet depicts a stylised anthropomorphic face with prominent pointed ears or horns and a suspension loop above the head, indicating that it was intended to be worn or suspended. Such protective amulets were widely used throughout the Eastern Mediterranean during the Archaic period, where they were believed to guard the wearer against misfortune and harmful influences.
Images of protective spirits, demons, and stylised divine beings appear in the artistic traditions of the Greek, Cypriot, Phoenician, and Levantine worlds. Their simplified yet expressive features reflect a shared visual language that developed through extensive trade, travel, and cultural interaction across the Eastern Mediterranean. Without a secure archaeological context, however, the precise cultural attribution of individual examples cannot always be determined.
Objects of this type were produced by skilled bronze workers using established casting techniques and were worn as personal talismans or attached to clothing, equipment, or other valued possessions. Their compact size and durable construction made them suitable for everyday use while conveying symbolic protection.
Dating to approximately the 8th–6th century B.C., this amulet belongs to a period of dynamic cultural exchange, when artistic motifs and religious ideas circulated widely between neighbouring societies. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where personal amulets of this kind accompanied their owners in daily life as symbols of protection and belief.
Details
Culture
Archaic Eastern Mediterranean
Century/timeframe
Circa 8th–6th century BC.
Name of object
Protective Amulet
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Auction house
Height
25 mm
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
