Byzantine Bronze Ring with Dove

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.

Ovoid plaque with incised amuletic ornament; obverse with nimbate horseman bearing a cross potent spearing a supine stylised female figure, Greek legend above 'oΑΓΟC CICINIC' (St. Sisinnius); reverse with advancing lion and Syrian and Greek legend relating to Μαρία η Αιγυπτία (St. Mary of Egypt). 4.13 grams, 31 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

In Byzantine folklore, St Sisinnius was the supernatural horseman and opponent of the Gelloudes, a class of female witches.

Modelled as a two-handled amphora with decorative bands to the body. 25.3 grams, 54 mm



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