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

Transverse ribs in the shoulder and a large triskele on the nozzle, with a low basal ring. 70 grams, 81 mm



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

Comprising a slender large hoop and a discoid bezel with a stylised standing bird. 2.34 grams, 23.12 mm overall, 18.28 x 20.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Enkolpion with hinged loop, nimbate figure in orans pose to obverse, Corpus Christi with a small cross above the head to reverse. 22.2 grams, 57 mm



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

Wide hoop with a raised boss at the base, an oval bezel with a facing bust of a nimbate saint flanked by two crosses. 5.73 grams, 23.63 mm overall, 19.84 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)



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

Hook earring with wire and glass bead dangles, disc spangles. 1.56 grams, 65 mm



From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet(s) with reference no.A71.

Bow brooch formed as a standing horse with one foreleg raised, the hind legs forming the pin-lug and the groundline between the forelegs forming the catch, punched ring-and-dot decoration on the body. 14.08 grams, 38 mm



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

Bulbous body with pointed base and domed filler-hole, a circumferential band above the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 276 grams, 87 mm



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.

An enkolpion plate with hinge-loops, nimbate robed figure at the centre in orans pose. 16.5 grams, 68 mm



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

Fan-shaped earring with recurved suspension hook; notched outer edge with punched pellets, cell with inset blue glass cabochon. 5.14 grams, 40 mm



From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet(s) with reference no.A66.

Formed from two hinged plates with a recess to the inner face of each, cast suspension loop to the upper hinge; obverse with four incised equal-arm crosses and 'MIXAHΛ' (Michael) legend; reverse with low-relief image of nimbate Mary in orans pose. 56.8 grams, 10.1 cm



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

Piriform body with raised edge to the filler hole and low-relief linear decoration on the body, the base with a rosette. 110 grams, 94 mm



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

Bifacial cross with lobed finials, gilt Greek inscription on both sides, one side with 'KE BOHΘΗ' placed vertically and 'TON ΔOY[...]' horizontally; the other side with 'ΛON COY CTYΛY' placed vertically, and 'ANON' horizontally; the whole inscription reading: 'KγριΕ BOHΘH TON ΔOYΛON COY CTYΛYANON' = Lord helps your servant Stylianos. 4.52 grams, 34 mm



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