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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 Copper Talisman Pendant with Saint George
Circa 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Tongue-shaped pendant with integral loop, obverse with stylised figure of a horseman spearing a creature, lion below and text surrounding 'EIC ΘΕΟϹ Ο ΝΙΚΟΝΤΑ ', reverse with stylised angel and legend '[KONCTA]NTΙΝΟY'. 9.55 grams, 62 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
The amulet has a prophylactic element asking the divine protection of a military saint (probably Saint Sisinnius, or Saint George or Saint Theodore) with the inscription 'Winning for God'. The amulet seems to belong to a certain Konstantinos, probably a soldier. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Piriform body with band of impressed scrolls and rings to the shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 399 grams, 11.5 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. -
Byzantine Limestone Mortar with Faces and Later Dedication
Circa 14th-15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £390
Drum-shaped body with narrow base, two vertical flanges running from the rim and between them two D-shaped male masks with low discoid caps; later inscribed: '1812 [ΕΤ]ΟΥ IΟΥ[ΛIΟΥ] 27 ІωÁΝΙΣ ΚΟΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΠΕΤΡΙΚΙ' (July the 27, year 1812 of Iohannes Konstantinos Petrikos). 11.15 kg, 22 cm wide
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
