Piriform in profile with domed mouth and stepped neck, raised vertical lugs on the body, stamped rosettes and linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 838 grams, 19.5 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.

Bulbous body with pointed tip and domed mouth, concentric circle motifs to the body and circumferential banding to the upper and lower body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 684 grams, 12 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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 in profile with domed mouth, impressed line and dot decoration on the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 54 grams, 16.5 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.

Worked and unpolished on all surfaces and edges, trapezoidal in plan with rectangular cross-section and slightly convex broad sides, straight narrow sides; thin butt rounded and with reduced thickness; rounded cutting edge; dark beige 'marbled' flint with inclusions. 467 grams, 18.5 cm



From the South of Denmark. Acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Slightly curved triangular point with plano-convex profile, cream and orange patina. 89 grams, 84 mm



Found Yonne, Bourgogne Franche-Compte Region, France. From a large French collection built up in the early 1900s. Acquired on the European art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

A nicely knapped leaf-shaped arrowhead in light brown flint, with old collector's number to verso: '24'. 1.87 grams, 30 mm



Found Thames Valley in the 19th century. From an antiquarian Palaeolithic study collection, Shropshire, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Leaf-shaped in plan and triangular in section; remains of old early 20th century label to verso. 49.7 grams, 10.2 cm



From an old West Country, UK, collection, sold at auction. From the private collection of a West Midlands lady collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Broadly ovate knapped from buff to light grey flint, made by Neanderthal man. 215 grams, 12 cm



Found Bourgogne Franche-Compte Region, France. From a large French collection built up in the early 1900s. Acquired on the European art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising: discoid in plan with inked label 'Bricketwood Herts 17.7.1972'; ovate in plan with inked label 'South Wiltshire 1968', 'N8-75', (1) and (3); ovate in plan with cortex to reverse, inked label 'Wessex 1972 N*-74' and '4a' to reverse. 141 grams total, 55-70 mm



Found South Wiltshire 1968, Wessex 1972, and Bricketwood, Herts 17 July 1972. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Bifacially worked tool group, the jasper with vibrant colours and traces of chalcedony running though it. 124 grams, 77 mm



Found Fontmaure, Vienne, France. Ex famous UK musician and amateur archaeologist, Victor Brox (1941-2023). Acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

A knapped leaf-shaped bifacial knife; inked legend 'Alligny . Cosne - 26 Jui 24'. 29.3 grams, 68 mm



Found Alligny, Cosne, France. Ex M Alias collection, France. Acquired on the European art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Three knapped knife blades, one in dark grey flint with some cortex, two pale brown. 22.05 grams total, 43-61 mm



Found Thames Valley in the 19th century. From an antiquarian Palaeolithic study collection, Shropshire, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.