Archaic Greek Sickle-Type Pyxis with Birds, Geometric Period, 8th century B.C. A bronze sickle-type pyxis composed of a lentoid-section body with integral bird protomes, incised detailing and scalloped openwork finial; lid elliptical in plan with a central stem crowned by a pierced discoid flange, also adorned with figurative bird protomes; corresponding perforations in lid and body used to fasten the component parts together; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 116 grams, 11.5 cm high (216 grams total, 13.5 cm high including stand) (4 1/2 in. (5 3/8 in.)). Private East Coast, U.S.A. collection. Acquired from Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, U.S.A. in 2018. Private collection of Professor Kenneth Graham, London, UK. Accompanied by an Artemis Gallery certificate of authenticity. Most likely used to hold perfumes or oils, possibly even opium. Excavation of an inhumation of a female individual (15 from Marvinci-Lisi?in Dol near Valandovo, Republic of Macedonia (Ha C)), revealed the so-called Paeonian ritual bronzes. Her grave goods included a long belt chain incorporating a miniature pyxis with bird protomes (very similar to the pyxis offered here) which is said to have contained raw opium (Kilian-Dirlmeier 2012, 172; Mitrevski 1996/97, 106; Mitrevski 2007). The sickle handles from the belt chain might represent sacrificial instruments but also symbolic tools for harvesting, and ultimately symbols of fertility.