The tapering blade with a single cutting edge; replica wooden handle with bulbous guard and pommel. 94 grams, 29.2 cm

Found on the Thames foreshore at Vintry, Southwark, London, UK.

Comprising seven tanged examples, three with barbs. 132 grams total, 9.1-11.4 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

With a piriform body and domed mouth, stepped rings to the foot, engraved decoration on the shoulders with crosses and grapes; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 573 grams, 15 cm

Acquired 1990s.
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.

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; for the way of employment see D'Amato, R., Byzantine Naval Forces 1261-1461, The Roman Empire's Last Marines, Oxford, 2016, plate B, p.41.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also in 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.

The undulating blade with a single cutting edge, guard and tang, together with a chape (belonging) with decorative incising. 159 grams, 26 cm

Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Comprising a hoop with reserved triangular ornament on the edges and triangular plaque with foliage motifs, raised central panel with frond motif. 22.61 grams, 34.77 mm overall, 25.16 mm internal diameter

Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Cf. Bikic, V., ‘Beyond the Jewellery: Archer’s Rings in the Medieval Balkans (14th-15th centuries)’ in Bosselmann-Ruickbie, A. (ed.), New Research on Late Byzantine Goldsmiths’ Works (13th-15th Centuries), Mainz, 2019, figs.5, 6, 7.

Archer rings in Late Byzantium and the medieval Balkans were connected with the employment of the powerful composite bow, but very often, in the 14th century they served as insignia of rank for aristocratic noblemen. Archaeological findings of archers’ rings originate mainly from fortified towns, including mining centres. Many were made in bone, simple in design and undecorated. In contrast, the ones made in bronze and silver were usually decorated in rather uniform style, consisting of floral motifs on the head, mostly tulip and foliage, and linear motifs around the edges. This decoration combined Turkish, Central European and Eastern Roman traditional patterns.

Composed of a variety of axehead types, each with a roughly circular socket, including one example with punched crescents to one face. 1.5 kg total, 9.1 - 12.8 cm

Ex property of B.C., previously in a 1970s collection.
Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity.

Comprising: a dagger quillon guard dated 15th-16th century A.D. with X-motifs and accompanied by a Portable Antiquities Scheme record; a partial chape with openwork heart motif; lobed and domed pommel; section of chainmail; four pommels for knives or other utensils, including examples with simple ornamentation. 135 grams total, 12-60 mm

Found Berkshire, UK.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-A95853 for the 15th century quillon guard.

Comprising seventeen tanged arrowheads, the most of them having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, cylindrical or squared stem for the shaft, barbed shoulders and convex sides; one with lanceolate head and rounded shoulders with long tang and foliate section; another narrow and foliate in shape. 126 grams total, 43-76 mm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, figures 463, 467, and 471, for the types.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A, C and D according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders. Subtype A is substantially similar to C, but smaller.

Of knightly form; composed of a straight double-edged blade of 35.5 inches in length and with central fuller, cruciform hilt, steel cross-guard and bound wooden handle; accompanied by a tooled leather scabbard. 1.3 kg, 1.07 cm

Acquired from MDL Historic Military Antiques, IK, 2015.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

Accompanied by copies of the purchase invoice and details.

Comprising four tanged arrowheads, having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, rectangular section stem with handle for the shaft, barbed shoulders and convex or squared sides. 161 grams total, 13-17 cm

From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, 1969-1999; thence by descent.

See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, figures 467 and 470, for some of these types.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and C according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes A and C of type V are larger arrow heads with barbed shoulders and triangular heads. These types of arrowheads were commonly used in Anatolia and Mesopotamia from the 2nd millennium B.C., but apparently their employment began earlier in this area, where types like these occur alongside the non-barbed, predominantly ribbed and tanged types.

The mixed group comprising a knapped stone arrowhead and two tanged copper-alloy arrowheads of different types. 38 grams total, 3.5-10 cm

Acquired on the UK art market, the bronze arrowheads from DRG Coins and Antiquities, Essex, UK.
Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.

Piriform body with domed filler-hole, raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 500 grams, 12 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family 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.