Byzantine Bronze Ring with Bird

Slender hoop expanding to an oval bezel with hatched border, intaglio motif of a stylised water bird facing right. 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)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Piriform body with domed filler-hole surrounded with impressed petals, band of ring-and-dot motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 417 grams, 98 mm



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.

Mainly comprising ornamental buckles and mounts, including openwork and zoomorphic examples. 115 grams total, 28-71 mm



Acquired in London in 1982. Property of a central London gentleman.