Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

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.

Cylindrical body with thickened base and angled shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 365 grams, 10.1 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.

Bifacial pendant with remains of inscription(?) on one side and the other with decorated arms and a bust in a circlet at the centre. 4.55 grams, 36 mm



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

Slipper type with a wide nozzle and a raised handle with pellet and ring-and-dot decoration to the rear, three vertical bands behind the handle, a band of pellets surrounding the filler-hole. 104 grams, 10.6 cm



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

Bifacial pendant with crosshatching on the body, large ring-and-dot eyes and small raised fins, integral suspension loop above. 6.11 grams, 52 mm



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