Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Piriform in profile with a stepped neck, incised decoration and three raised lugs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 534 grams, 14 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s.

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.

Comprising a short tubular socket with flared neck to the angled blade; incised herringbone ornament to both faces flanked by pounced triangular panels in bilinear bands, 104 grams, 11.6 cm



From an old English collection formed since 1960.

Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with a midrib and a long tapering socket; accompanied by a display stand, repaired. 365 grams total, spearhead: 36.5 cm (38.2 cm including stand)



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The spear, belonging to type 3 of the Khorasani classification, was used by chariot fighters to strike each other or the enemy infantry from above. Similar specimens with longer sockets were excavated by Negahban in the Amlash area. According to Moorey, sockets as long, if not longer than the blade, are a characteristic of Iranian spearheads in the late 2nd and early 1st millennium B.C. A similar spearhead from the Tappeh Sialk has been dated to the 9th-7th century B.C.

With triangular spurs flanking the square socket, broad flaring triangular-section blade extending to a curved edge with carination to its rear, hammer extension to the reverse of socket. 474 grams, 20 cm



Ex North American private collection, 1970s-1990s.

Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with a midrib, a long tapering socket with a flared mouth. 154 grams, 25.5 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Ovoid body with circular socket. 435 grams, 86 mm



From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.

With a tapering rectangular-section blade and a short tang. 239 grams, 31 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

These shoulderless spearheads are introducing the Luristan and Hamadan in the Median and Achaemenid Periods. The bronze type was cast in a mould, and the length suggests it was a throwing weapon or used in conjunction with a chariot.

Comprising a triangular blade with a narrow midrib, a short tang with two piercings, and attachment studs in situ. 125 grams, 25.6 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The spearhead belongs to type 2 according to the classification of Khorasani. A similar specimen was excavated by Negahban in Marlik.

With a slender blade, chin to the lower edge with a spur to the rear, round socket with rectangular flanges; traces of the original wooden shaft inside the socket. 600 grams, 16.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Lenticular type with casting seam to the rim, raised 'Μ...ΝΗΣ' legend. 25.5 grams, 28 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 and a half inches in maximum length, and under one inch in maximum width.

Lenticular type with casting seam to the rim, raised 'AΓΟΡΟΥ' legend (genitive for Agouros = immature, unripe). 32.7 grams, 31 mm



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

Sometimes the bullet carries a joke for the enemy. Here, the bullet bears the inscription ‘immature’, signifying that the enemy will receive not a nice fruit to eat, but an unripe fruit, a fruit he never wants to get.

Piriform in plan with convex surface, high-relief repoussé acanthus-leaf palmette; mounting holes at the narrow end, edge chipped. 39.6 grams, 15.3 cm



From the late collection of a Cornish couple, formed from the early 1990s.