Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Piriform body with raised rim around the filler hole and rounded nozzle, raised frond decoration to the shoulder, and a basal ring. 46.6 grams, 76 mm



From a collection of lamps of a late Scottish gentleman, 1970-1990s.

D-section hoop and a circular bezel with a stylised eagle looking left. 5.82 grams, 23.22 mm overall, 18.70 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)



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

Piriform in profile with a domed filler hole, linear decoration and a band of impressed lozenges with a cross motif on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 374 grams, 10.5 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'.

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.

D-section hoop with raised circular bezel showing a stylised walking bird with four stars on the field. 6.20 grams, 25.12 mm overall, 17.93 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



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

Slipper-shaped body with raised rim around the filler hole, tapering nozzle, lug handle to the rear, low-relief frond decoration to the discus, small basal ring. 63.2 grams, 88 mm



From a collection of lamps of a late Scottish gentleman, 1970-1990s.

A bifacial pendant with a nimbate figure in orans pose on one side and the other with Corpus Christi. 3.89 mm, 37mm



Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

With recessed central panel, beaded edges, slot to short end; openwork scrolled foliage motif. 16.9 grams, 41 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Piriform in profile with a domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 375 grams, 10.6 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'.

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.

Circular body with a wide nozzle, filler hole with a raised square border with a band of pellets below, a wide triangular handle at the rear with three raised vertical bands behind, and a low basal ring. 93.6 grams, 10.1 cm



From the collection of a Yorkshire, UK gentleman, items collected in the Holy Land in the 1960s.

With dimple to the underside, squat square body and wide everted rim. 34.7 grams, 49 mm



From an important London collection of glass, 1990s.

Plano-convex in profile with a low-relief image of a nimbate figure flanked by worshippers, holding an orb and cross. 5.43 grams, 24 mm



Ex important Christian collection, 1970s.

Tongue-shaped in plan with knop finial and three pierced lugs to the reverse; raised rim enclosing a scene with an advancing gladiator and a beast preparing to attack. 14.83 grams, 38.39 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.