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

Lentoid in form with raised legend to reverse 'Q.SERT / PRO C'; casting seam and flange. 59.6 grams, 37 mm



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

The inscription may refer to Quintus Sertorius, the Roman statesman and general (123-72 BC). In late 82 BC, Sertorius, linked to the party of populares of Gaius Marius, was proscribed by Sulla and forced from his province in Hispania. However, he soon returned in early 80 BC, representing himself as a Roman proconsul resisting the Sullan regime at Rome. Being Proconsul in this Hispania from 82 to 73 B.C., the slingshots of his army were bearing the inscription 'Q.SERT / PRO C' (Quintus Sertorius Proconsul).

The blade expanding towards the shoulders, a pierced rectangular-section tang. 174 grams, 29.2 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

Broad blade with thickened edge, rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions. 269 grams, 13.5 cm



Ex North American collection, 1970s.

Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved monogram to obverse 'REX·SOS'; Neo-Punic monogram to reverse. 67.3 grams, 40 mm



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

This remarkable slingshot offers a rare insight into a little-known period in the history of the Kingdom of Mauretania in the first century B.C. The piece can be linked to King Mastanesosus, who is known to have shortened his name to “Sos.” He was the son of Bocchus I (c. 110–80s BC), the ruler who famously betrayed King Jugurtha of Numidia to Sulla and the Roman Republic. The inscription in Latin shows the growing influence of Rome at the time. It may even suggest that Roman slingers were part of Sosus’s army. During this period, Mauretania was already coming under Roman control and influence. Later, Bocchus II, the grandson of Sosus, supported the winning side in Rome’s civil war, and Mauretania became a client kingdom. This eventually led to its full absorption into the Roman Empire after the murder of King Ptolemy, son of Juba, by the emperor Caligula. The reverse of the slingshot shows a monogram in neo-Punic, similar to those found on coins from the same period. This is almost certainly a personal symbol or mark of Sosus himself. The use of both Latin and neo-Punic makes the piece bilingual, which is particularly interesting.

Comprising fifteen tanged arrowheads, mainly leaf-shaped and barbed types. 247 grams total, 4.8-18 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Bulbous body with a tiered base; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 960 grams, 14.8 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.

Mainly biconical types, some with raised lettering and other ornament; supplied with old collector's record tickets. 411 grams total, 29-32 mm



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.

Comprising a cylindrical shaft with flared mouth, rounded flanges around the bulb, and horizontal stepped collars. 263 grams, 13.4 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Slender blade with a raised midrib and tubular socket. 222 grams, 36.5 cm



From the collection of Martin Doyle, Leverstock, UK, 1980s-2000s.

Large leaf-shaped blade with a narrow midrib and a rectangular-section tang with bent finial. 275 grams, 30.4 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 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.

With a slender heart-shaped blade, thick midrib, flared closed socket. 120 grams, 28 cm



From a 1980s collection. Ex North West London gallery. with TimeLine Auctions, 22-27 May 2018, no.1480. Private collection, Suffolk.