Carved in the half-round in three-quarter view, youthful male head with stern features, hair gathered in a browband, horns to the brow; from a frieze or relief; mounted on a custom-made stand.

Carved in the round with thick wreath of laurel leaves to the brow, short tousled hair, stern face with thick jaw; mounted on a custom-made stand.

Standing contrapposto with his weight on his right leg and the left leg brought slightly forward; the musculature of the torso displaying well-defined pectoral muscles, prominent abdominal muscles and wide shoulders, the back with equally toned musculature and well-formed rounded buttocks; the veining of the marble accentuating the idealised anatomy; the now-absent head was most probably turned towards the supporting leg and the left arm would have been raised; mounted on a custom-made display stand.

A high-status green chalcedony seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as: 1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ 2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu- 3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši 4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš 6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'. The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 B.C.), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'; the Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown.

A substantial torch bearer depicting a male lion or panther standing with legs firmly planted on a rectangular base, tail extending to the ground, with a massive circular shaped armature or candelabra issuing from its back and wearing an elaborate muzzle, the eyes retaining shell inlay with a circular hollow for the pupils; to the right of the beast a kneeling nude male wearing a large belt-armour and a diadem, eyes inlaid, left hand extended to the side and holding the lion's leash.

Tongue-shaped with an applied openwork panel, cross-in-wheel motif within a segmented border and zoomorphic detailing; loops to the broad end and knop finial to the rounded end. 21.2 grams, 57 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Within the category of these buckles to which the current example belongs to, the plate was decorated with an openwork pattern which was rivetted onto a cover plate. The central decoration varied between purely vegetal depictions, mostly vines, and allegorical animal scenes, which J. Werner interpreted as a pictorial implementation of the animal symbolism of Physiologus.

Piriform body with vertical bands of pellets and roundels, knop finial, tiered and domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 755 grams, 15 cm



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

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.

To one face an incuse cross above an agnus dei, to the other Christ enthroned in majesty with worshipper. 2.96 grams, 21 mm



Acquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. From a gentleman's private collection.

Piriform body with vertical ribbing along the whole length, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 556 grams, 13.1 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'.

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.

Claw-shaped with cross and angel motif to the obverse; an inscription reading '+O KAT...Y' to the reverse. 7.9 grams, 39 mm



Acquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. From a gentleman's private collection.

While one side is engraved with an angel with a cross-staff, the other side is engraved with the beginning of Psalm 91 (90): + Ο ΚΑΤΟΙΚΟΝ ΕΝ ΒΟΗΘΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΥΨΙϹΤΟΙ…(He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High…).

Domed sheet-gold pendant with filigree hoops and granulation, four cells each with a gemstone cabochon, lateral loops. 2.68 grams, 19 mm



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Emily Teeter (ed.) - Before the Pyramids - Chicago, 2011, card covers, 288 pp; Jaromir Malek - In the Shadow of the Pyramids: Egypt During the Old Kingdom - London, 1986, hardback with dustwrapper, 128 pp; George Hart - Pharaohs and Pyramids: A Guide Through Old Kingdom Egypt - London, 1991, hardback with dustwrapper, 240 pp; Miroslav Verner - The Pyramids@ The Mystery, Culture and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments - New York, 1998, hardback with dustwrapper, 495 pp. 3.91 kg total, 23.5 x 16 - 30.6 x 23 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.

Carol Andrews - Ancient Egyptian Jewellery - London, 1990, hardback with dustwrapper, 208 pp; Sir W.M Flinders Petrie - Scarabs and Cylinders with Names - Warminster, reprinted 1978, 45 pp, 73 plates; Milada Vilimkova - Egyptian Jewellery - London, 1969, hardback with cloth covers, 142 pp; Cyril Aldred - Jewels of the Pharaohs: Egyptian Jewellery of the Dynastic Period - London, 1971, hardback with dustwrapper, 256 pp; Elisabeth Delange - Rites et Beauté: Objets de Toilette Égyptiens - Paris, 1993, hardback, 48 pp. 4.27 kg total, 20.2 x 13.8 - 30.8 x 22.6 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.

Shire Egyptology titles, all card covers, mostly 64 pp: Geoffrey Killen - Egyptian Woodworking and Furniture - 1994; carole Reeves - Egyptian Medicine - 1992; Steven Snape - Egyptian Temples - 1996; Eric Uphill - Egyptian Towns and Cities - 2001; Rosalind & Jack Jansen - Egyptian Household Animals - 1989; Bernd Scheel - Egyptian Metalworking Tools - 1989; Rosalind Hall - Egyptian Textiles - 1986; Barbara Adamas - Predynastic Egypt - 1988; Colin Hope - Egyptian Pottery - 1987; Barbara Adams & Krzysztof Ciałowicz - Protodynastic Egypt - 1997; Philip Watson - Egyptian Pyramids and Mastaba Tombs - 1987. 1.65 kg total, 21 x 15 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.

M. Oldfield Howey - The Cat in Mysteries of Religion and Magic - Rutland, 1981, hardback with dustwrapper, 253 pp; Jaromir Malek - The Cat in Ancient Egypt - London, 1993, hardback with dustwrapper, 144mpp, signed by the author; Patrick F. Houlihan - The Animal World of the Pharaohs - London, 1996, hardback with dustwrapper, 245 pp; Dale Osborn & Jana Osbornova - The Mammals of Ancient Egypt - Warminster, 1998, card covers, 211 pp. 3.5 kg total, 23.5 x 16 - 30.3 x 22 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.

Miroslav Verner - Abusir: Realm of Osiris - New York, 2002, hardback with dustwrapper, 248 pp; Piotr Bienkowski & Angela Tooley - Gifts of the Nile - London, 1995, card covers, 130 pp; Ann Rosalie David - A Year in the Life of Egypt - Barnsley, 2015, hardback with dustwrapper, 263 pp; John Ray - Reflections of Osiris - London, 2001, hardback with dustwrapper,176 pp; Normandi Ellis (trans.) - Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead - Grand Rapids, 1988, card covers, 227 pp; E.A. wallis-Budge - The Judgement of the Dead and the Weighing of the Heart Before Osiris - Edmonds, 1989, card covers, 40 pp; Paul Brunton - A Search in Secret Egypt - London, 1972 edition, card covers. 297 pp. 4.42 kg total, 20.8 x 14.5 - 32 x 24 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.

Josephine McCarthy - The Book of gates: A Magical Translation - London, 2017, card covers, 347 pp; Joseph Kaster - The Wisdom of Ancient Egypt - New York, 1993, hardback with dustwrapper, 305 pp; Gilbert Murray - Nefrekepta - Oxford, 1911, hardback, 47 pp, pages uncut; Roger Lancelyn Green - Tales of Ancient Egypt - London, 1967, hardback with dustwrapper, 199 pp; Isha Shaller de Lubicz - Her-Bak Egyptian Initiate - London, 1967, hardback, 220 pp; Margaret Murray - Wisdom of the East: Ancient Egyptian Legends - London, 1920, 119 pp. 3.06 kg total, 17 x 12.5 - 28 x 21.5 cm



From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020.