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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. 1373
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Including triangular-section and leaf-shaped socketted types. 16.1 grams total, 18-34 mm

Ex G. White collection, 1980s-1990s.

Piriform body with radiating vertical lugs to the shoulder and decorated panels between, tiered neck, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 977 grams, 20 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;

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 horizontal bands to the shoulder, flanged collar, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 458 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.

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.
Biconvex body with impressed billeted bands and domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 460 grams, 13.9 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.

The shape corresponds 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.
Piriform body with zigzag band to the equator and impressed roundels to the shoulder, tiered neck, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 650 grams, 13.3 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.
Lot No. 1379
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Solid shot suitable for a saker or demi-culverine. 4.05 kg, 10 cm

From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Lot No. 1380
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Formed with a squared butt and flared cutting edge; flat in cross-section. 168 grams, 17 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Cf. Evans, J., The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, item 29; Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B., The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Ab. IX, vol. 7, Munich, 1981, p.60.

Lot No. 1381
10
Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
With broad curved blade and pointed chin, broad neck, deep socket with lateral flanges. 698 grams, 15.5 cm

From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.

Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CXXIV, item 10.

During the mid 13th century, the axes were favourite weapons among Baltic people. For instance the Curonian army included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield and a wide-bladed axe.
Lot No. 1382
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Comprising forty-five arrowheads of various types, including triangular, lanceolate and leaf-shaped; mainly tanged. 550 grams total, 2.9-16.1 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Lot No. 1383
4
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Comprising: two hand-forged iron stirrups each with a reinforcing strap beneath the footplate, slotted suspension plate; snaffle-bit with hooked outer ends each with a twisted-rod ring and a curved transverse bar with dentilled lower edge. 821 grams total, 19.5-20 cm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.33(2), for type.

With pyramidal point, square-section shaft, tubular socket and a pelletted triangle maker's mark. 36.3 grams, 66 mm

Tucker collection, Buckinghamshire, UK; formed in the 1980s.
Property of a Kent lady collector.

Lot No. 1386
2
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Including barbed, leaf-shaped and other types, all tanged. 154 grams total, 4.3-10.8 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

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