Large wooden barrel with brass eyepiece and inner tube, marked in copperplate script 'T.Harris & Son, London / Day or Night'. 1.05 kg, 55 cm



From the private collection of author and historian Dr DeWitt Bailey, one of the global authorities on the confederate army in the US civil war; thence by descent to his grandson.

Piriform in profile with domed mouth and stepped neck, raised vertical lugs on the body, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 464 grams, 14 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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.

With lentoid-section blade, median rib and curved shoulders, tapering towards the end, rectangular stub tang. 262 grams, 36 cm



English private collection, late 1970s-early 1980s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

With tapering, double-edged triangular blade and central midrib; crescent-shaped, tri-lobed guard at the shoulder; restored decorated cylindrical hilt with domed stone pommel. 878 grams, 54.2 cm



From a North West London collection; previously acquired in the 1980s.

Toroid and drilled vertically to accommodate a wooden shaft. 453 grams, 74 mm



From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Fragment of scabbard for a narrow two-edged sword; with three transverse bands of impressed crosses, lozenges and rosettes; edges butted to reverse. 39 grams, 13 cm



From the collection of a Buckinghamshire, UK, collector established from the earlier 1960s.

Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΥΔΑ'. 40.5 grams, 25 mm



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

The leaden bullets, which were thrown from slings, were called in Greek Molivdainai (μολύβδαιναι), and in Latin glandes; the former indicating the material ‘lead’, the latter the shape ‘acorns’. These bullets, were cast in a mould and bore letters or devices, or both, on two sides or on only one. In form they were more like an almond than an acorn, but many are pointed at both ends; in size, they are generally about one inch and a half in maximum length, and under one inch in maximum width.

With rounded shoulders and square-sectioned mid-rib running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole. 45 grams, 46.5 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The spearhead belongs to the type VI spearhead of the Khorasani classification. It is characterised by a long blade and short tang, slightly rounded shoulders and pronounced midrib. Similar weapons were excavated by Prof. Negahban in the royal cemetery of Marlik.

Articulated in the middle, with lateral bars and loop to each outer end. 248 grams, 21.5 cm



From an old Australian collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

Ellipsoid in section with central slot to accept the tang; scooped 'cocked hat' profile to the broad faces, with horizontal rounded band to the lower edge. 17.6 grams, 47 mm



Found Tuesday 1st April 2025 in Wenham Parva, Babergh, Suffolk, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SF-92FBDC.

Ovoid in profile with pointillé and linear decoration, domed filler hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 389 grams, 98 mm



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'.

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.

With lentoid-section blade, tongue-shaped in plan, with integral tapering hilt with flared finial, lateral flanges to accept a panel of bone to each face forming the grip. 138 grams, 29.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, early 2000s.

The art of Luristan can be described as the art of nomadic herdsmen and horsemen with an emphasis on the crafting of small, easily portable objects, among these a great number of bronze weapons. The rich and noble aristocrats of the Luristan, Elamites, Hurrians, Lullubians, Kutians, and Kassites, went to battle splendidly equipped and wore magnificent bronze armour, using maces, spears and daggers as offensive weapons, alongside spears, bows and arrows.