Choose Category:

Home > Auctions > 23 - 27 May 2023
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins

Back to previous page

Auction Highlights:

Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,850
Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,440
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,750
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
Lot No. 0799
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Featuring tongue-shaped decorative elements and geometric and foliate motifs; formed as an opposed pair of capital 'M' characters; on the reverse two attachment loops. 3.36 grams, 34 mm

Acquired in the 1990s.
Private collection, Suffolk, UK.

The letter M is probably intended for 'Maria'.
Lot No. 0800
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
Composed of weights of different types and sizes, including examples stamped with rosette motifs. 179 grams total, 16-24 mm

From the collection of H.N., Milton Keynes, 1980s-1990s.

Heater-shaped with attachment lugs to the reverse; high-relief figural design, possibly 'Daniel in the Lion's Den'. 16.01 grams, 35 mm

Acquired 1960s-1990s.
From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Lot No. 0802
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Of square form displaying the Greek letters ΓΓ either side of a Christian cross at the centre. 79 grams, 37 mm

From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Lot No. 0803
12
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
The suspension loop with beaded border; finely granulated star pattern; raised rib highlighted with beads of gold to the centre; the lower body of the pendant decorated with filigree triangles, a trail of lines leading to a central gold boss, each segment with a small bead of gold. 1.74 grams, 15 mm

Acquired in the 1970s.
From an important London, UK, collection.

Of piriform shape with raised inscription around the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 307 grams, 11.2 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Composed of a slender hoop expanding to facetted shoulders, octagonal bezel engraved with a bird standing left at centre, Greek or pseudo Greek text in the surrounding field. 10.13 grams, 24.76 mm overall, 21.83 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)

UK private collection formed before 2000.
Ex North London, UK, gallery.

Featuring a pedestal foot; the bust carved to one face, holding a globus cruciger in one hand, crosses and annulets in left and right fields, a horizontal register of concentric roundels to the opposite face. 49.7 grams, 59 mm

From a Paris gallery, French collection pre 1978.

Lot No. 0807
9
Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Composed of carnelian and perhaps glass rounded oval beads, featuring a gold Solidus coin pendant of Emperor Justinian I; modern screw clasp. 14.3 grams, 37 cm long

Acquired in the 1970s.
Ex property of a North London collector.

Lot No. 0808
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Square in form with 'NIB' within wreath to one face, IB meaning the number twelve. 53 grams, 29 mm

From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Cf. Wamser, H., Die Welt Von Byzanz-Europas Ostliches Erbe, Germany, 2004, p.361, for a very similar example and discussion.

Lot No. 0809
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Rectangular in plan with central recessed Christian cross, small recessed cross within a square to centre, pouring channel above; circular recess to each corner; soapstone. 163 grams, 67 mm

Acquired on the London art market, 1960s-1980s.
Ex Hertfordshire, UK collector.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

Of piriform shape, decorated with stamped sunburst and pellet-in-triangle motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 522 grams, 12.1 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Page 50 of 209
589 - 600 of 2508 LOTS