Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Hollow-formed plaque with lobed outer edge, scooped sides and notched band at the inner edge; openwork circle and crescent motifs; with the remains of the original leather strap. 38.15 grams, 42 mm



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Columnar stem with conical base extending to a square-section shank. 18.8 grams, 31 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

Stamping in antiquity and in the Roman Empire was under strict regulations, and it was not limited to food and liquid containers. Bricks and tiles used in construction were impressed with the names of magistrates, workshops, estate owners from whom the material came, and the names of individual makers. Among the myriad Late Roman stamps, a great number were to mark bread or containers holding flour and other foods, as well as a variety of liquids such as wine, oil, fish and fruits preserved in sauces, medical ointments, and even water. It is interesting to note as the Jewish symbols here engraved are very stylised: as mentioned by various scholars, the Jewish representations of shofar and lulav on this category of stamps degenerated in quality in Late Antiquity, and this is why they are variously dated between the 4th and the 7th century.

Buckle plate tongue-shaped with stylised birds motif within a segmented border and zoomorphic detailing; loops to the broad end and knop finial to the rounded end; kidney-shaped loop and tongue with thickened outer end; attachment lugs beneath. 31 grams, 82 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

An enkolpion plate with hinge-loops, raised robed figure at the centre in orans pose. 23 grams, 77 mm



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

Squat in profile with flared body and broad base, flared mouth with rolled rim. 100 grams, 77 mm



From a specialist collection of glass, acquired from dealerships during the 1990s.

Rectangular plaque with two loops and a low-relief image of a facing lion with emphasised head. 6.2 grams, 30.5 mm



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

Piriform body with short nozzle and a stub handle on the rear, raised linear decoration on the body, base with a sunwheel motif. 100 grams, 89 mm



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

Buckle plate with rectangular body and hinged loop, broad tongue; reserved profile figure of a peacock enmeshed with tendrils and globe 19.60 grams, 83 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

A matched pair with round-section hoops and decorative 'bulbs' featuring medial ropework collars, with applied beads and collars of 'ropework' to both ends. 9.54 grams total, 35-36 mm



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

Piriform body with circumferential bands and impressed motifs on the shoulder and wide neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 562 grams, 10.3 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.

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. 513 grams, 12.2 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.

A plain plate from an enkolpion with hinge-loops at each end. 7.36 grams, 48 mm



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