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Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins

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Auction Highlights:

Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Sold for (Inc. bp): £31,200
Sold for (Inc. bp): £48,100
Sold for (Inc. bp): £15,600
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46,800
Lot No. 0941
2
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Portrayed in active pose with mantle drawn tight around the body, nimbus to the head. 4.17 grams, 23 mm

From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

Lot No. 0942
20
Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
Hoop with snakeheads to the shoulders, discoid plaque with beaded collar, cell with claw setting for an amethyst cabochon. 4.93 grams, 19.40 mm overall, 12.57 mm internal diameter

Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.

Piriform body with band of impressed rosettes to the equator, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 563 grams, 11 cm

From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.

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 Gefäße 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Piriform body with lateral ribs and impressed ornament to the upper body, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 132 grams, 79 mm

From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.

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 Gefäße 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Comprising: a cruciform pendant with notching to each arm and integral suspension loop; a finial crowned with an angel or seraphim. 21.83 grams total, 31-57 mm

Ex old English collection.
London art market, 1980s.

Cf. Wamser, L., Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 549, for type.

Lot No. 0946
18
Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Central conical tube with three hollow radiating bulbs, all with applied filigree and bands of granulation, replicating a flower bulb. 5.09 grams, 31 mm

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

Piriform body with vertical ribs to the body, interstitial panels of impressed foliage ornament, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 573 grams, 14 cm

From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.

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; the shape is similar with a specimen from British Museum, inventory no. 1882,0720.1 from Bulandshahr, India, in Hildburgh, W.L., ‘Aeolopiles as fire blowers’ in Archaeologia, 94, 1951, pp..27-55, pl.XVI.c.

This piece was a sort of a ceramic fire grenade, similar to the ones used by the Eastern Romans but of Turco-Mongol type. Apart from the use of manual flame-throwers, special corps of soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations, even in Burma.
Lot No. 0948
11
Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Restrung; composed of annular and biconvex carnelian beads, together with a bronze Christian cross with the Five Wounds of Christ represented as ring-and-dot ornament. 4.28 grams, 18 cm long

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Lot No. 0949
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
With remains of notch detailing to the outer edges of the arms, two links of the suspension chain. 2.58 grams, 38 mm

Ex DRG Coins and Antiquities, Essex, UK.
Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.

Cf. Wamser, L., Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, item 555, for type.

The example of a bronze cross corresponds, in shape and style, to a typology also known in organic material, specifically in wood. Dating this typology is difficult, as it is not easy to identify its place of origin or the context with which these crosses were associated.
One with silver-inlaid '+ / Γο B' and the other with incised 'Αω'. 78 grams total, 24-27 mm

Acquired on the European art market.
Property of a European gentleman.

Piriform body with impressed hatched bands to the shoulder and upper body, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 802 grams, 18 cm

From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.

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 Gefäße aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.

; the shape finds correspondence with a fire grenade in the Kars Museum, no.14.09.2009. 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Lot No. 0952
12
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Cruciform with low-relief image of the crucifixion to one face. 5.4 grams, 44 mm

Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

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