Ancient Greek Bronze Pair bow brooches (Phrygian type) (No reserve price)

"Ancient Greek Bronze Pair Bow Brooches (Phrygian Type)

Culture / Period: Ancient Greek
Date / Period: 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 32–40 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: 690

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

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

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

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

Background Information:
This matching pair of bronze bow brooches belongs to the Phrygian fibula tradition, a characteristic type that emerged during the Early Iron Age and became widespread across Anatolia, the Aegean, and parts of the Greek world between the 8th and 6th centuries B.C. These brooches are distinguished by their arched bows and carefully moulded decorative elements, including geometric faceted collars and terminals, reflecting the distinctive metalworking traditions of the period.

Fibulae of this type functioned as practical fasteners for garments such as cloaks, mantles, and tunics. Worn by both men and women, they secured clothing while also serving as visible ornaments that reflected regional craftsmanship and contemporary styles. Their presence in settlements, sanctuaries, and burials demonstrates their importance in everyday life as well as in ceremonial and funerary contexts.

The brooches were cast in bronze and subsequently finished by hand, with decorative mouldings and geometric motifs incorporated into the design. Such standardised forms illustrate the highly developed bronze-working traditions of the Early Iron Age. Comparable examples have been recovered throughout Phrygia, western Anatolia, mainland Greece, and neighbouring regions, demonstrating extensive cultural interaction and exchange across the eastern Mediterranean.

Dating to the 8th–6th century B.C., these brooches belong to a formative period in Greek and Anatolian history, when regional artistic traditions flourished alongside expanding trade networks. This pair provides a direct and tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind combined practical function with personal adornment and formed an integral part of daily dress."