A bronze bow brooch with hollow conical bow and symmetrical arms; the bow with central stud and facing masks above hatched bodies extending to the arms, each with lateral S-shaped animal elements, hands gripping the ribbon bodies and opposed facing mask at the outer edge; masks and lateral animals with silvered surfaces; hollow to the underside, pin-lugs and catchplate intact.

PROVENANCE:
Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent, 1972; accompanied by an original positive X-Ray fluorescence metal analysis report number 00583-2015Vj by Oxford Labs, an original Art Loss Register certificate number 8576(21).AR dated 24 October 2015, and two academic offprints regards similar equal arm brooches found previously.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Arbman, H. Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.80, item 2; Arwidsson, G. Birka II: 2 Systematische Analysen der Gräberfunde, Uppsala, 1986, pl.98, item IIIC:1.