Ancient Greek Bronze Pair bow brooches (Phrygian type)

Ancient Greek Bronze Pair of Bow Brooches (Phrygian Type)

Culture / Period: Ancient Greek
Date / Period: 8th–6th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 32–41 mm
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 681

The current owner purchased the Ancient Greek bronze pair of 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 type, a distinctive class of Early Iron Age fibulae that became widespread throughout the Greek world and western Anatolia during the 8th–6th centuries B.C. Their robust arched bows with moulded collars and pronounced terminals are characteristic features of this well-established form.

Fibulae served as essential dress fasteners, securing cloaks, mantles, and tunics worn by both men and women. In addition to their practical function, they acted as personal ornaments and often reflected regional fashions and local craftsmanship. Matching pairs such as these were especially suitable for fastening heavier garments or cloaks.

These brooches were produced by skilled bronze casters using organised manufacturing techniques that spread across the eastern Mediterranean. Originating in Phrygia, this fibula type was widely adopted by Greek communities through trade, cultural contact, and migration. Comparable examples have been recovered from settlements, sanctuaries, and burial contexts across Greece, Asia Minor, and the Balkans, demonstrating the broad distribution of this successful design.

Dating to the 8th–6th century B.C., these brooches belong to a period of increasing cultural exchange and technological development in the ancient Mediterranean. They provide a direct and tangible connection to the people of antiquity, for whom such objects formed an indispensable part of everyday dress while reflecting the artistic and metallurgical traditions of the Early Greek world."