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

Discoid bezel with incuse design of annulets, chevrons and other motifs. 5.12 grams, 15 mm



Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent.

With rounded hoop supporting an arcade with a disc above. 8.90 grams, 33.70 mm overall, 20.40 x 18.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent.

Comprising: brown pottery oil lamp with a band of raised decoration around the shoulder, small stub handle to the rear and a cross-shaped maker's mark on the base; grey pottery oil lamp with a large filler hole and a slightly concave base. 176 grams total, 81-84 mm



Ex J. Zadok & Sons, 18, King David Road, Jerusalem, Israel. From the G.H. Freelander collection, formed in the late 1970s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman; thence by descent. Accompanied by two previous catalogue information slips.

Expanding arms and an integral suspension loop, the obverse with punched ring-and-dot decoration. 6.02 grams, 42 mm



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

Barrel-shaped with incised ring-and-dot ornament forming an arcade. 7.78 grams, 17.78 mm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole, the body decorated with impressed ring-and-dot motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 376 grams, 11.6 cm



Ex important collection of weaponry, London, UK, 1980-1990s. 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 bifacial flask with flared rim flanked by strap handles; impressed roundel to each face with beaded border and nimbate figure flanked by two crosses. 105 grams, 10.1 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole, the shoulder with an impressed band of rosettes and two circumferential bands above; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 681 grams, 12 cm



Ex important collection of weaponry, London, UK, 1980-1990s. 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.

With bezel of flattened conical form pierced at the base, inset glass cabochon. 5.55 grams, 26.50 mm overall, 16.85 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



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

Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole, an impressed circumferential band above the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 401 grams, 95 mm



Ex important collection of weaponry, London, UK, 1980-1990s. 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.

With central lozenge void, short arms terminating in buds, pierced lug above. 15.7 grams, 45.7 mm



Private collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK.

D-setion hoop with integral disc bezel, incuse Maltese cross motif. 4.61 grams, 25.21 mm overall, 19.19 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



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