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

Slightly domed disc with attachment holes at the rim; incised border of reserved scrolled tendrils on a pounced field. 95 grams, 16.5 cm wide



Acquired on the UK art market. From a gentleman's collection from East Sussex, UK.

Comprising a two-edged leaf-shaped lentoid-section blade, crescentic lower guard, ribbed hilt and domed finial. 93 grams, 20.1 cm



Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed and other types. 215 grams total, 5.7-15.6 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980-2010.

Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 555 grams, 10.6 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.

Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole, an impressed circumferential band on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 370 grams, 93 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 narrow triangular iron blade; wooden crossguard, grip and upper guard all with moulded and braided leather covering, trapezoidal flange finial; leather sheath with wooden carcass, reptile-skin frog and chape with braided knot finial; braided suspension loop and attachment buttons. 320 grams,72.5 cm



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

Comprising a thin leaf-shaped two-edged blade in an X-shaped wooden hilt with carved fluting and median rib. 188 grams, 30 cm



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

With traditional X-shaped carved hilt (lateral arms partly absent); narrow lentoid-section two-edged blade with hooked end for slicing. 243 grams, 32.7 cm



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

With slightly carinated equator to the globular body and tubular shaft. 377 grams, 91 mm



From the collection of North West London, UK, gentleman, early 2000s.

Including barbed-and-tanged, flat lozengiform, leaf-shaped and other types. 309 grams total, 5.3-13.1 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.

Biconical in profile with letters 'MANHC' on one side and 'EYAP' on the other side. 25.17 grams, 27 mm



From a German private collection, formed since the 1980s.

This slingshot bullet is inscribed with two names. On one side, the Lydian name Manes; on the other, a name starting with Euar(…).

Comprising a thin triangular two-edged blade in a carved wooden hilt with integral crossguard and pommel with a conical button; wooden sheath with leather covering, two braided leather thongs each forming a thick suspension loop and similar binding forming a chape. 172 grams, 26.2 cm



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