Home > Auctions > 23 - 27 May 2023
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins
Auction Highlights:
Acquired in the 1990s.
Private collection, Suffolk, UK.
The letter M is probably intended for 'Maria'.
From the collection of H.N., Milton Keynes, 1980s-1990s.
Acquired 1960s-1990s.
From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.
Acquired in the 1970s.
From an important London, UK, collection.
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.
UK private collection formed before 2000.
Ex North London, UK, gallery.
From a Paris gallery, French collection pre 1978.
Acquired in the 1970s.
Ex property of a North London collector.
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.
Acquired on the London art market, 1960s-1980s.
Ex Hertfordshire, UK collector.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
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.
589 - 600 of 2508 LOTS



