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LOT 0801
Byzantine Bronze Buckle Plate with Man and Beast
10TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (16.01 grams, 35 mm).
Heater-shaped with attachment lugs to the reverse; high-relief figural design, possibly 'Daniel in the Lion's Den'.
ProvenanceAcquired 1960s-1990s.
From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Gold Coin Bead Necklace
Coin dated 610-641 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £293
Composed of irregular coral and glass beads, featuring a gold Solidus coin pendant of Emperor Heraclius; modern screw clasp. 29.17 grams, 38 cm long
From an important North London collection formed before 1980. -
Byzantine Inscribed Ceramic 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Of piriform shape with raised inscription around the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 307 grams, 11.2 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Byzantine Redware Bread Seal
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Bearing a central hand motif and surrounding inscription in Greek letters 'K E R A Y I O I T H I M (?)' probably the mark of the producer. 239 grams, 10.2 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Museum collections hold many stamps or seals of different forms, materials and shapes, some bearing inscriptions or images. These could have been used on bread, dough or on fresh clay to stamp amphoras, bricks, lamps and other clay objects.
