Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Openwork integral plate with hatched decoration and a kidney-shaped loop, two pierced lugs on the underside. 27.4 grams, 56 mm



From the private coin collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.

With inscription '+ΘKEB / OΘTO / ΔΟΛΟ / ΤΘΛΑ' for 'ΘΕΟΤΟΚΕ ΒΟΗΘΕI ΤΩ ΔΟΥΛΩ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΛΑΔΕ' (Mother of God, help Lades, the servant of God). 13.1 grams, 18 mm



From an important collection formed before 1988, London and Geneva.

The stamp seals that have survived in large numbers from Byzantium are objects a few centimetres high and conical in shape, featuring a sealing surface at the lower end and a pendant at the upper end. They served the same function as signet rings and were used to seal everyday objects, primarily for personal purposes, using wax and other soft materials.

The bezel formed as an open facade of a building with a pediment, a robed figure inside, seated on a throne with lion-head arms. 6.67 grams, 22 mm



From the private collection of Graham Slater (1927-2024), Cambridge, UK; formed 1980s-1990s.

Formed as a stylised bird with a hemispherical body, U-shaped nozzle forming the head, two projecting wings with incised decoration, and a large flaring tail forming the handle with a central cross motif, three stub legs on the underside. 65.9 grams, 12 cm



From an important collection of lamps, Germany, 1970s.

Enkolpion with hinged and ribbed loop; low-relief nimbate figure in orans pose to reverse wearing draped robes; robed Corpus Christi to reverse with cross above. 36.9 grams, 82 mm



From the private coin collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.

Piriform body with pointed base and domed mouth, stamped linear decoration on the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 505 grams, 11.9 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.

Linear decoration radiating from the large filler hole, with a small handle to the rear. 76 grams, 92 mm



From the collection of a Cambridge, UK, gentleman, by direct descent from his father, who acquired the items in London in circa 1960.

Lug handle to the rear, band of herringbone pattern around the filler hole, the nozzle with a sunburst motif flanked by ring-and-dot motifs; low basal ring with a central pellet. 60 grams, 93 mm



Ex Ancient Art Shop, Windsor, UK, 1990s. Ex private West County, UK, collection.

An expanding hoop with decorated shoulders, an octagonal bezel with a monogram, composed of the Greek letters 'Χ [ΑΙΡΕ] ΔΥωΝ[Υ]C (?)' = Be glad Dyoniys. 5.76 grams, 24.25 mm overall, 20.14 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

The plate and hoop of these rings were soldered together. This system probably originated only in the late period of the Eastern Roman Empire, as evidenced by the faceting of the sides and the irregularity in the letters forming the name.

Conical body with integral loop above, underside with a standing bird with hooked beak, pelletted field. 11.7 grams, 24 mm



Private collection, UK.

Discoid bezel with three lines of enigmatic Greek text 'KE[.]E / ΦυΛA / -+-'; with old collector's ticket 'van Phocas'. 3.51 grams, 23.60 mm overall, 20.04 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Enkolpion with hinged loop, nimbate figure in orans pose to obverse, Corpus Christi with a cross above to reverse. 19.1 grams, 52 mm



From the private coin collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.