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LOT 1022
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Bird
6TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (2.00 grams, 19.48 mm overall, 16.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)).
Slender hoop expanding to an oval bezel with hatched border, intaglio motif of a stylised water bird facing right. [No Reserve]
ProvenancePrivate collection formed since the 1940s.
UK art market.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Gold Filigree Pendant
12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Capsule-shaped with openwork filigree ornament to the equator, a single granule to each terminal and a coiled wire suspension loop to apex. 0.82 grams, 15 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Byzantine Bronze Cross with Black Glass Beads
5th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Cross pattée pendant with ring-and-dot ornament on a string of black glass beads. 11.3 grams, 42 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, stamped flowers and ring-and-dot motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 426 grams, 10.5 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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.
