Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Comprising a triangular blade with a facetted, flaring neck and a rectangular-section tang. 288 grams, 30 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The weapon belongs to the type 1 of the spear-head classification of Khorasani, mainly originating from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 B.C.

Piriform in profile with a domed mouth and a stepped neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 505 grams, 15.7 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.

A spike-butted axehead with a short cylindrical socket with four furrowed ribs leading to four short spikes, blade with curved upper and lower edges and a convex cutting edge. 390 grams, 22 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

It is difficult to know whether this type of axe, given its high decoration in some specimens, was used as a weapon or was a symbol of rank and prestige, employed for ceremonial or cult purposes. However, considering that the concept of parade weapons did not exist in the surrounding areas in Antiquity, these axes were most probably used for both military and ceremonial purposes.

Substantial blade with rounded shoulders and a short rectangular-section tang. 355 grams, 42.7 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Luristan was hardly an ethnic or political entity, but the people of Luri had relations through warfare and trade with Sumerians, Lullubi, Assyrians, Babylonians and Elamites over a long period of time, spanning from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ruling elites of warrior horsemen were buried in the graves with their weapons and horses.

Mixed group of tanged arrowheads, one a swallowtail type. 72 grams total, 6.8-14.9 cm



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

Biconical in profile with casting seam and the Macedonian Star on one side. 27.8 grams, 28 mm



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

In Greek warfare, slingers appear as psiloi, lightly equipped troops who skirmished ahead of a phalanx or alongside peltasts. Some city-states likely trained their own slingers; others were specialists. Rhodian slingers became famous in the 4th century B.C. because the islanders had a tradition of practice. In the Peloponnese, in mainland Greece, and along the Aegean coast, slingers fought in both field operations and sieges. The practice survived into the Roman period, during which specialist mercenaries, like the Rhodians or the Balearic slingers, were still in use.

With straight shoulders and lozengiform mid-rib running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole. 154 grams, 31 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Comprising a slender blade with a raised midrib with grooves, a short rectangular-section tang pierced at the end. 200 grams, 41.5 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The Luri people produced a quantity of fine metalwork, which, according to Dr Khorasani, could be due to a settled period arising as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 BC. According to Khorasani, 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150-1050 B.C.'

Ovoid in profile with a domed tiered filler hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 700 grams, 13.8 cm



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.

Comprising six caltrops, hand-forged with square-section spikes. 195 grams total, 85-87 mm



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

P. Žákovský has been able to classify medieval caltrops, mainly from the 13th to 15th centuries A.D., based on their morphology, into four main typologies, each with different variants. Caltrops with single-pointed spikes, whose interpretation, however, is often ambiguous, belong to type I. The other three types represent classic four-pointed caltrops, and individual types in this group differ from one another just in their cross-section.

Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with a raised midrib and a tapering tubular socket. 317 grams, 23.7 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The spear belongs to the type VIII classified by Khorasani (spearheads with well-projecting midribs and long folded sockets) and more specifically to subtype C (with leaf-shaped blade and short hollow socket). Usually the willow-leaf blade has an almost straight shoulder base and a wide, flat midrib tapering towards the point.

With flat blade a curved cutting edge, hammered round-section tubular socket. 112 grams, 10.8 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.