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Byzantine Silver Belt Mount and Strap End Set
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £53
Including heart-shaped appliqués with attachment studs to reverse, finial with notched band and kidney-shaped end. 31.81 grams, 25-45 mm
Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
Byzantine Bronze Pectoral Cross Pendant
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A large expanding arm cross with a central raised boss, each arm with an incised concentric ring motif with four ring-and-dot motifs surrounding a central recess, possibly to accept an inlay; further ring-and-dot motifs on the body. 50 grams, 89 mm
Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
Byzantine Bronze Cross Pendant
Circa 10th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Formed of expanding round-section arms with a raised plaque at the centre on both sides. 11.44 grams, 55 mm
Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
Byzantine Lead Pilgrim's Koutrouvion Holy Water Flask with Saint
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With discoid body and cylindrical neck, two lateral small suspension handles; obverse with low-relief facing image of Saint Demetrios with cloak and spear, reverse with Saint Theodora in monastic garments; hatched bands to borders, flange to lower edge; a myrrh flask (koutrouvion). 81.1 grams, 73 mm
From a retired Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman's collection, a long time member of the Pewter Society.
For the Byzantines, koutrouvia were vessels made of clay or lead in which pilgrims carried the aromatic oil (myrrh) which they acquired from the cult centres of saints. -
Byzantine Plaque with Armoured Bust
Circa 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Rectangular die with facing bust surmounted by a cross, with feathers or scales to the chest, C-shaped and other impressions to obverse and reverse. 35.55 grams, 46.31 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Byzantine Silver Marriage Ring
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Comprising a slender round-section hoop with a rectangular bezel featuring an opposing couple, reversed inscription 'VIVTΛS' above. 1.97 grams, 21.66 mm overall, 18.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
From an English private collection, 1980s. Property of a London, UK, antiquarian. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Ovoid in profile with a domed filler hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 349 grams, 88 mm
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. -
Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamp
7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Slipper-shaped in plan with spike handle, raised rim to the filler hole, broad shoulder with raised radiating bars, stub nozzle, low basal ring, with inked inscription to verso which reads: '11-6-1963 / Front the old / ROMAN CITY / SEBASTIA / SAMARIA'. 83 grams, 89 mm
From a late Hampshire gentleman's collection, formed from the 1960s.
The shape of the lamp is similar to that of the candlestick-type lamps. The form of the channel and the handle point to a late date, i.e., the end of the 7th or the beginning of the 8th century A.D. -
Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Pendant
10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Enkolpion with hinged loop, nimbate figure in orans pose to obverse, Corpus Christi to reverse. 11.16 grams, 50 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Byzantine Lead Pilgrim's Holy Water Ampulla
Circa 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
An amphora-shaped body with bands of pellet-in-triangle motifs, two loop handles. 17.4 grams, 42.5 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Byzantine Bronze Decorated Archer's Thumb Ring
10th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Wide hoop with three raised bosses, triangular extension with vine-leaf and scroll decoration. 9.75 grams, 39.38 mm overall, 21.50 x 22.11 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y 1/2, USA 12 1/4, Europe 28.2, Japan 27)
Ex Wiltshire, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Large Byzantine Period Terracotta Oil Lamp
Circa 7th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Piriform oil lamp with small filler hole and a loop handle to the rear, low-relief linear decoration on the body. 207 grams, 13.4 cm
From the collection of a Yorkshire, UK gentleman, items collected in the Holy Land in the 1960s.