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

Drum-shaped body with rounded base and domed filler hole, impressed leaf motifs on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 605 grams, 12.8 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 rectangular-section tapering blade and a tubular socket widening towards the base. 210 grams, 24.7 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.

About 4 inches in diameter, spherical solid shot with a small patch of slight flattening from the casting process. 5.43 kg, 10.8 cm



Found Southwold Beach, Suffolk, UK, in 1984. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Nottinghamshire, UK, gentleman.

The Battle of Solebay took place on 6 June 1672 near Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was an action in the Third Anglo-Dutch War and one of the largest naval battles of the period. A Dutch fleet attacked a combined Anglo-French force off the English coast but the outcome was inconclusive despite a very lengthy combat. The Allied fleet suffered considerable damage and was forced to abandon plans to land troops on the Dutch coast.

Model 1831 double-edged short sword with slightly waisted lentoid-section blade, solid bronze hilt with ribbed grip, roundel finials to the crossguard, stamped '717' to one face and 'X' to underside; blade with asterisk proofing stamp, copperplate legend 'Shre...'; reverse with 'Châtellerault,1832'; edges notched. 1.11 kg, 63.7 cm



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

Piriform in plan with convex surface, high-relief repoussé acanthus-leaf palmette; mounting holes at the narrow end, edge chipped. 39.6 grams, 15.3 cm



From the late collection of a Cornish couple, formed from the early 1990s.

A single-edged hand-forged sabre with a gently curving blade and shallow tip; small ferrous crossguard with lobe finials; domed stud to the grip. 510 grams, 82 cm long



Acquired on the London art market, 2022. Private collection, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Pair of moulds with locating lugs and sockets to the inner face, loops to the outer faces. 32 grams total, 27 mm each



London gentleman's collection, 1970-1990s, by descent.

Comprising a tongue-shaped two-edged blade and carved wooden hilt with bands of horizontal ribbing, integral crossguard and disc pommel with a domed button; leather sheath with crocodile-skin panels and twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop; leather-covered knop forming a chape. 172 grams, 27.5 cm



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

Slender blade with rounded, pierced shoulders and a short tang. 170 grams, 34.9 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.

Biconical body with pointed base and a domed filler hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 540 grams, 13.3 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.

Large leaf-shaped blade with extended and rounded tip, thick neck, hand-forged split socket with rounded lip. 935 grams, 60 cm



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

With spade-shaped blade, midrib, lateral barbs, round-section tang; mouned on a custom-made stand. 75 grams total, 16 cm high including stand



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.