This type of brooch with three bears is found in several excavations in both Sweden and Norway. This brooch is based on a find from Birka, which can be seen here: https://samlingar.shm.se/object/7AA9D6B7-7AAF-47C9-A2A2-95C73515A84D
Small round brooches are common in Viking Age female graves and appear to have been worn to fasten the neckline of a tunic. They were often accompanied by a larger brooch below to hold together a shawl or jacket. The second brooch was usually round, equal-armed, or triple-lobed (see other examples of our Viking Age brooches).
Here are some other similar finds: https://samlingar.shm.se/object/8FDE04AB-ECB4-4EC8-B305-F466F030761A
https://samlingar.shm.se/object/CEC6C255-847A-43EE-BDA2-08BE237369E9
The original was made of gilded bronze and is now at the Historical Museum in Stockholm. Our brooch is made of bronze.
