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LOT 1323
Byzantine Bronze Cross Pendant
10TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
1 5/8 in. (10.6 grams, 43 mm).
Round-section arms with knop finials, raised pellet at the centre and an integral suspension loop. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Bronze Oil Lamp with Chain and Chi Rho
Circa 5th-6th century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
With a carinated, round body and long, narrow nozzle with a flaring finial, a scalloped rim around the circular wick hole; small circular filling hole with a hinged, domed lid; the elaborate trumpet-shaped handle with a hexagonal lotus flower finial with knops, and a raised Chi Rho at the forward edge; looped suspension chain with a hook, and a square socket at the base to accommodate a stand pricket. 1.08 kg, 40 cm
Private collection, Stortford, England, 1982. with Christie's, New York, 9 June 2011, no.203. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13194-250130. -
Large Byzantine Period Terracotta Oil Lamp
Circa 7th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Piriform oil lamp with small filler hole and a loop handle to the rear, low-relief linear decoration on the body. 207 grams, 13.4 cm
From the collection of a Yorkshire, UK gentleman, items collected in the Holy Land in the 1960s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Piriform body with circumferential bands and impressed motifs on the shoulder and wide neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 562 grams, 10.3 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.
