Comprising a hexagonal-section socket and seven radiating lobes with incised slash detailing. 70 grams, 36.6 mm



Found Norfolk, UK.

Piriform in profile with drilled socket expanding towards the narrower end. 404 grams, 76 mm



From the collection of North West London, UK, gentleman, early 2000s.

Piriform, undecorated body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 455 grams, 15 cm



From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. 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.

Lentoid type with low-relief legend 'AΓOPOY' . 41.7 grams, 32 mm



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

Comprising a lentoid-section, leaf-shaped blade with tapering socket. 285 grams, 38 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Comprising a cylindrical shaft with flared mouth, rounded flanges around the swollen head, horizontal stepped bands; Sara Gorz type. 416 grams, 98 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Slender triangular-section blade with scooped quillons, bell guard with engraved foliage ornament, and inner fabric sleeve, turned grip with knop finial. 472 grams, 106 cm



Property of a Berkshire, UK, gentleman collector.

Comprising a broad iron two-edged blade wth inlaid white metal inscription to each face, T-shaped pommel, ribbed grip and narrow lower guard with inlaid bird motif in a circle. 477 grams, 38 cm



Private collection, UK.

Long blade with a pronounced mid-rib, openwork tubular hilt, crescentic guard. 310 grams, 37.2 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

In these daggers, the hilts were cast in the lost wax process, while the blades were cast in a mould. The openwork was cast in the original wax, and after casting was inlaid with a cream-coloured stone, which survives in some examples.

Comprising a lentoid-section bulbous grip with lateral stub quillons and carinated spur to both faces, dished disc pommel with dome and knop; reserved panels of gilt arabesque ornament, rosettes and linear detailing. 285 grams, 17.5 cm



Private collection, UK.

Including barbed and tanged, leaf-shaped and other types. 302 grams total, 6.4-14.8 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

The curved blade with corrugation below the spine, narrowing tip, applied collar at the ricasso; pierced discoid guard, curved grip with decorated sleeve; lacquered scabbard with silver fittings; Vietnamese name lightly inscribed on hilt. 967 grams total, 93 cm including scabbard



Acquired in 2008. Property of a Kent, UK, private collector.