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

Biconical in profile, inscribed with capital letters AIN on one face. 29.1 grams, 27 mm



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

Inscription 'AIN' can be either the abbreviation of a personal name like Aineas ( the Trojan hero Aeneas) or maybe referring to the Ainianes, the people of Ainis.

Featuring a leaf-shaped blade and an expanding tubular socket. 199 grams, 25 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

Comprising a waisted, leaf-shaped two-edged blade with incised detailing, carved wooden hilt with integral crossguard, end of the tang bent over at the top; leather sheath with moulded ribbing, twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop and leather-covered knop forming a chape. 81 grams, 19.5 cm



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

Comprising: wooden haft with tapering end; heavy rectangular block with lozenge-section spike above, hook to rear and broad curved blade; screw fitting to tubular sleeve attached to the haft. 1.44 kg, 140 cm



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

Comprising a triangular two-edged blade with incised linear detailing, carved wooden hilt with carved ribbing to the angles, integral crossguards, domed button finial; leather sheath with crocodile-skin panels, twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop, braided leather knop forming a chape. 172 grams, 23 cm



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

Spherical solid-core type of about 5 ounces. 141 grams, 31 mm



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

Comprising a narrow triangular blade with a thick midrib, curved lip to the rear edge on each side of a square-section tang with curved end. 275 grams, 52.2 cm



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

Comprising: curved single-edged blade with thick back and scooped tip; curved grip with bell-shaped guard and repoussé sleeve with floral detailing; wooden core carved at the open end to represent dense foliage in detailed openwork with recurved finial; wooden scabbard with sheet metal sleeve and ornamented frog to match the grip. 755 grams, 72 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Triangular blade with raised midrib extending to a rectangular-section tang. 235 grams, 38 cm



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

Curved in profile with recurved ends to the broad upper edge; carination around three edges, attachment rivets; extensive leather lining strips to reverse; later suspension wire for display. 270 grams, 21.5 cm



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

Lower part of a tasset with the outer edges deformed due to repair work. Tassets are pieces of plate armour designed to protect the upper thighs.

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. 910 grams, 12.2 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.

Comprising a flared mouth and band of annulets beneath, stepped shoulder developing to pentagonal-section spike with raised spur to each face. 191 grams, 23.5 cm



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