Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Ovoid body with a round socket. 233 grams, 63 mm



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

Comprising a triangular blade with integral ribbed handle and a crescentic pommel. 450 grams, 40 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

These kinds of bronze daggers or dirks, typical of Marlik culture, were cast in a one piece mould according to Negahban, although in some specimens the guard was later cast into the blade. The separate sets of encircling ribs on the grips are again typical of swords from the Marlik area. In our specimen the grip is opened on one side to receive organic filling.

Piriform body with domed filler hole, impressed circumferential bands on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 718 grams, 16 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.

With swept lateral barbs and deep conical socket. 20.66 grams, 88 mm



Acquired from a USA private collector in the 1990s. Ex Buckinghamshire, UK, collection.

Comprising leaf-shaped and triangular tanged arrowheads, most with a raised midrib. 238 grams total, 8.1-18.7 cm



London, UK, collection, 1990s.

All these bronze typologies of arrowheads were cast in moulds. Similar specimens have been found in Northwest and West Iran, Azerbaijan, Luristan and Amlash. Most of these blades are bipartite, but the definition of the bipartite type is not absolute, as it brings together weapons of very different and unrelated designs. In fact, some weapons do not have a sufficiently characteristic shape to be interpreted as a javelin or long arrowhead.

Triangular in plan with a broad, flat-section midrib, broad tip; rounded shoulders with a short pierced tang. 310 grams, 40.5 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Ovoid in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 667 grams, 12.8 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.

With a globular body and a short cylindrical socket. 335 grams, 78 mm



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

Tubular in plan with collar to mouth and base, five radiating bulbs. 138 grams, 74 mm



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

Comprising six caltrops, hand-forged with square-section spikes. 338 grams total, 76-93 mm



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

Caltrops were scattered on battlefields in an effort to stop or slow advancing enemy cavalry or foot soldiers; regardless of how a caltrop lands, one spike is always facing upwards. Caesar used them widely at Alesia (Caes., BG 7.73; 82): 'Stakes a foot long, with iron hooks attached to them, were entirely sunk in the ground before these, and were planted in every place at small intervals; these they called spurs'.

Comprising a triangular blade with a narrow midrib, a short tang with two attachment studs in situ. 184 grams, 32 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Lentoid in form with raised legend to reverse: 'Q.SERT / PPOR C'; casting flange to rim. 57.2 grams, 33 mm



Acquired on the UK art market, early 2000s. Property of a London, UK, antiquarian.

The inscription refers to Quintus Sertorius, the Roman statesman and general (123-72 BC).