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LOT 0971
Byzantine Bifacial Gemstone with Religious Scenes
6TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (2.96 grams, 21 mm).
To one face an incuse cross above an agnus dei, to the other Christ enthroned in majesty with worshipper.
ProvenanceAcquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s.
From a gentleman's private collection.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Silver Inlaid Bronze Trade Weight Group
6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
One with silver-inlaid '+ / Γο B' and the other with incised 'Αω'. 78 grams total, 24-27 mm
Acquired on the European art market. Property of a European gentleman. -
Byzantine Gold Rose Turreted Ring with Cross Gemstone
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,460
Slender hoop with low-relief scrolled tendrils to the shoulders; openwork cup bezel with inset garnet cabochon, incised cross fleury motif. 4.28 grams, 28.85 mm overall, 19.02 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1980-1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12112-217763. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Piriform body with band of impressed rosettes to the equator, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 563 grams, 11 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. 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.
