Ancient Greek Bronze bow brooch (Phrygian type) - 43 mm (No reserve price)

"Ancient Greek Bronze Bow Brooch (Phrygian Type)

Culture / Period: Ancient Greek
Date / Period: 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 43 mm
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 687

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, one of the most characteristic fibula forms of the Early Iron Age. Its robust arched bow is embellished with moulded collars and pronounced terminals, features that typify this widely distributed design used throughout the Greek world and western Anatolia during the 8th–6th centuries B.C.

Fibulae were essential components of ancient dress, serving as practical fasteners for cloaks, mantles, and tunics worn by both men and women. In addition to their utilitarian function, they acted as decorative ornaments and reflected regional styles, local craftsmanship, and the growing sophistication of early Greek metalworking traditions.

Originating in Phrygia in central Anatolia, this fibula type spread across the eastern Mediterranean through trade, migration, and cultural interaction. Skilled bronze craftsmen produced these brooches by casting and carefully finishing the decorative mouldings, resulting in durable objects suited for everyday use. Comparable examples have been recovered from settlements, sanctuaries, and burial contexts throughout Greece, Asia Minor, and the Balkans, demonstrating the broad circulation of this successful design.

Dating to the 8th–6th century B.C., this brooch belongs to the Archaic period, a time of expanding trade networks and increasing artistic and technological development. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind were indispensable elements of daily clothing and illustrate the shared traditions of craftsmanship across the early Greek Mediterranean."