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

Piriform in profile with a stepped neck, incised decoration and three raised lugs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 424 grams, 17 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.

Comprising fourteen tanged arraoheads, mostly barbed types. 232 grams total, 6.1-16 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Piriform in profile with a stepped neck, incised decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 385 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.

Slender blade with a wide midrib and a short rectangular-section tang. 267 grams, 34.7 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Comprising sixteen tanged arrowheads, mostly barbed types. 313 grams total, 6.5-14.7 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Triangular blade with raised midrib and a rectangular-section tang. 130 grams, 31 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Comprising a hoop with reserved triangular ornament on the edges and triangular plaque with foliage motifs, raised central panel with frond motif. 22.61 grams, 34.77 mm overall, 25.16 mm internal diameter



Acquired in the 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Archer rings in Late Byzantium and the medieval Balkans were connected with the employment of the powerful composite bow, but very often, in the 14th century they served as insignia of rank for aristocratic noblemen. Archaeological findings of archers’ rings originate mainly from fortified towns, including mining centres. Many were made in bone, simple in design and undecorated. In contrast, the ones made in bronze and silver were usually decorated in rather uniform style, consisting of floral motifs on the head, mostly tulip and foliage, and linear motifs around the edges. This decoration combined Turkish, Central European and Eastern Roman traditional patterns.

Biconical in profile with a casting seam and a rayed solar symbol, the so-called Argead Star, on one side. 27.2 grams, 30 mm



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

The rayed solar symbol (Argead Star, Vergina Star) is interpreted as the historical royal symbol of the ancient Macedonian Dynasty of the Argeads, with its most famous member being Alexander the Great.

Slender blade with raised midrib, a collar beneath the shoulders and a rectangular-section tang; set in a custom-made stand. 96 grams total, 20.5 cm including stand



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, Suffolk.

Featuring a slender leaf-shaped blade with a long tapering shaft and a rectnagular-section tang with a bent finial. 197 grams, 43.1 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1990s.

Comprising a tapering leaf-shaped blade with a raised midrib and a short tapering tang. 245 grams, 35 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Piriform body with dome filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 536 grams, 12.7 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.