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Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins

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Auction Highlights:

Sold for (Inc. bp): £28,600
Sold for (Inc. bp): £18,200
Sold for (Inc. bp): £17,550
Sold for (Inc. bp): £39,000
Sold for (Inc. bp): £20,800
Sold for (Inc. bp): £28,600
Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £24,700
A ceramic missile, piriform in profile with band of impressed rings to the equator and larger ring-and-dot motifs beneath, domed filler-hole above, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 829 grams, 14.6 cm

From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s.

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 domed filler-hole, the upper body with impressed ring-and-dot motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 415 grams, 10.6 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. 1373
2
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Comprising an H-section tang with lateral wings, slender leaf-shaped head with spiked point. 28.37 grams, 18.5 cm

Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Some texts related to ancient Mesopotamian wound dressing give detailed instructions for surgery with a scalpel, including post-operative care such as the dressing of operations sites with oilsoaked linen bandages. One scantily described operation is the cutting between the third and fourth ribs, counting from inferior to superior, to relieve pus collection in the pleura or liver.
Lot No. 1374
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Group of ninty-nine lead musket and pistol balls. 2.08 kg total, 12-18 mm

UK gallery, early 2000s.

A piriform ceramic missile with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 750 grams, 10.5 cm

From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s.

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. 1376
7
Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
A group of ten iron anti-cavalry caltrops, hand-forged with square-section spikes. 599 grams total, 77-96 mm

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

Cf. Žákovský, P., ‘Caltrop. Contribution to the knowledge of one neglected weapon’ in Studia Minora Facultatis Philosophicae Universitatis Brunensis, M 12-13, 2007-2008, pp.115-132, fig.9, nos.2,3,4,5 (type 3 of Žákovský classification).

P. Žákovský has been able to classify medieval caltrops, mainly from the 13th to 15th century A.D., on the basis of their morphology, into four main typologies, each with different variants. Caltrops with single-pointed spikes, whose interpretation, however, is often ambiguous belong to type I. The other three types represent classic four-pointed caltrops, and individual types in this group differ from one another just in their cross-section.
Two snaffle bits with curb strap ring to each end, mounted on a fabric-covered display board with titling panel. 467 grams total, 17.5-20 cm

From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Comprising a spearhead with leaf-shaped blade and raised triangular mid-rib, short tapering open socket with inside wood remains, and a forged axe with folded rectangular-section open socket and flared crescent-edge blade. 791 grams total, 11.2-22.5 cm

From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Cf. Allen, S., Celtic Warrior 300 BC-AD 100, Oxford, 2001, p.51, and plates A and E, for similar specimens.

The Celtic warrior used a light javelin to throw and a heavier thrusting spear at close quarters. An iron spearhead of identical shape but with bronze decoration was recovered from the Thames and dated to the late Iron Age.
Hand-forged two-edged iron knife blade with modern replacement hilt and leather sheath with saddle-stitched detailing. 336 grams total, 34.5 cm

From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Comprising a Roman U-shaped spur with lateral lugs and prick spur; an Anglo-Saxon iron spur with barley twist body and small terminals. 254 grams total, 82-83 mm

From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Cf. De Shortt, H., ‘A provincial Roman spur from Longstock, Hants, and other spurs from Roman Britain,’ in The Antiquaries Journal, volume 39 issue 12, Cambridge, 1959, pp.61-76, fig.22 (Hod Hill) and 25 (Hadrian’s Wall), for similar Roman spurs.

Bailey, G., Detector Finds 5 Witham, 2002, p.32, fig.1, for the Saxon spur.

The Romans employed a light spur (calcar) made of bronze or iron, U-shaped and barely covering the heel. To the rear of the spur was a small point, and this form continued to be in use through the early Medieval period. The Saxon spurs were very similar to the Roman examples, although slightly larger and with a more spiked point.
Including leaf-shaped and triangular types with flat- and square-section tangs. 245 grams total, 9.6-17.5 cm

Ex London collection, formed 1990-2000.

Lot No. 1384
11
Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Comprising paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib. 177 grams total, 57-80 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.

Cf. for similar arrow-points Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, in Russian, (plate XLIII, nos.26-27, 92-93).

These kind of arrowheads were typical of the Old Babylonian Empire. The shoulders were pronounced and the arrowhead had a rectangular-section tapering tang. This simple form was popular throughout and show comparative common finds in the Holy Land.
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