8th century BC. A pair of bronze pyxides, each with splayed foot, narrow stem, bulbous body narrowing to the rim and linear incisions to the body; one with triangular lobes, each pierced, and an oval lid pierced twice to match the lobes for suspension; lid with extended winged handles, one incomplete, and central knop handle, mounted on a custom-made stand; the other a 'Sickle' type pyxis with wings to the body, extending down from the rim and recurving upwards, pierced through, and an oval lid pierced twice to match for suspension; lid with winged handles curved to fit with those below, and central knop handle with flat discoid terminal. Cf. Benaki Museum, Athens, accession number: ?? 7888, for type.510 grams total, 10-11cm including stand (4-4 1/4"). Property of an American collector; formerly the property of a North American gentleman; acquired from Fortuna Fine Arts, New York, USA, 2003; previously with Gorny and Mosch, Munich, Germany; formerly from an old private German collection. These lidded bronze pyxides most likely originate from the area of Northern Greece, fitting a type and style typical of the Geometric Period (9th-7th century BC), with linear motifs to the bodies. The vessels would have been hung, as indicated by their perforations, and could have been used to hold perfume or oils. The 'sickle' type pyxis is so-called because of the shape of its wings, which are said to resemble sickles, but elsewhere these wings have been identified as stylised bird protomes. [2, No Reserve]