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LOT 1122
Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Pendant
CIRCA 9TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
2 in. (11.69 grams, 51 mm).
Enkolpion with spurs to the angles of the four arms, central low-relief ring to each face; hinged suspension loop with ribbing. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx 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.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Pendant
11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Enkolpion with low-relief Corpus Christi figure to obverse, hinge loops above and below; incised and inlaid cross to reverse. 14.8 grams, 57 mm
Ex European collection, 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection. -
Byzantine Bronze Reliquary Cross Pendant
Circa 9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Cross pommee type, bifacial with punched rings to the lobes and central lozenge; some distortion. 4.96 grams, 35 mm
Ex Den of Antiquity, Cambridge, UK. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Ovoid in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 269 grams, 85 mm
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.
