Byzantine Bronze Ring with Military Saint and Inscription

Piriform body with raised edge to the filler hole and low-relief linear decoration on the body, the base with a rosette. 110 grams, 94 mm



From the collection of a Cambridge, UK, gentleman, by direct descent from his father, who acquired the items in London in circa 1960.

Piriform body with a rounded base and domed mouth, circumferential bands on the body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 747 grams, 14 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s. 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.

Each with a shallow discoid bowl and flared rim, round-section shank; one with an integral suspension ring. 58.3 grams total, 16.2-16.5 cm



Ex property of a London gentleman; part of a Mayfair collection formed in the 1970s and 1980s. Private collection, Suffolk, UK.