Byzantine Bronze Buckle Plate with Lion of Saint Mark

bulbous in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 338 grams, 10 cm



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.

Comprising: a squat body and large nozzle with shallow socketed rim, hinged lid to filler-hole with striped pattern, handle formed with lobed cross and loop to rear, annular foot. 376 grams, 13.7 cm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

The great success of this type of lamp in the Eastern Roman Empire brought about the establishment of several production centres, as can be confirmed by the frequent appearance of some of the details, e.g., the shape of the lid or of the cross and the length of the spout. Despite their wide distribution across Asia Minor, Greece and the Balkan Peninsula, these lamps also spread throughout Syria and reached Egypt, Morocco and even central Europe.

With a raised nimbate figure in orans pose on the obverse, integral suspension loop. 3.56 grams, 34 mm



Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.