Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Pendant

Enkolpion reliquary pendant with hinged body and substantial suspension loop; obverse with low-relief nimbate Christ with four busts surrounding; reverse with incised figural detail. 22.9 grams, 54 mm



Ex Den of Antiquity, Cambridge, UK. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s. Accompanied by a typed dealer's ticket.

Wide hoop with X-motis on the shoulders, oval bezel with stylised dove holding a sprig in its beak. 4.90 grams, 21.74 mm overall, 19.61 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

A piriform missile with domed and segmented filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 792 grams, 15 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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.