Small round brooches are typical finds in female graves from the Viking Age. They appear to have been worn to fasten the neckline of a shirt. Typically, they were complemented with a larger buckle below to hold together a shawl or cloak. The other buckle was usually round, equal-armed, or a trefoil brooch (similar to our other Viking Age brooches).
This type of brooch with three bears is known from several finds in both Sweden and Norway. This brooch is based on a find from grave Bj 1095 in Birka.
The find can be seen here: Link to the original
Another similar find is this one: Second link from Birka, grave Bj 737A.
The original was made of gilded bronze and is now at the Historical Museum in Stockholm.
Our brooch is made of bronze.
