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LOT 1060
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Warrior Saints
11TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (5.54 grams, 22.88 mm overall, 19.22 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)).
D-section hoop and a raised circular bezel with two nimbate warrior figures. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000.
From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Cf. Đurović, I., Средњовековни накит из збирки Народног музеја Крагујевац (Medieval jewelry from the collections of the National Museum Kragujevac, in Serbian), Крагујевац, 2012, fig.58, for the type.
FootnotesThese banded rings, made of bronze sheet with a flattened ellipsoidal head, could be decorated with geometric or animal ornaments executed by shallow carving, or human figures. In this circumstance, the bezel is decorated with stylised images, most probably military saints, who were asked for protection and blessing.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Piriform in profile with raised lugs and stamped rosettes on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 670 grams, 12.5 cm
From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. 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. -
Byzantine Silver Ring with Cross
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Discoid bezel with incuse cross fourchee, interstitial saltire. 3.83 grams, 24.35 mm overall, 20.70 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. -
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Monogram
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
An expanding hoop with decorated shoulders, an octagonal bezel with a monogram, composed of the Greek letters 'Χ [ΑΙΡΕ] ΔΥωΝ[Υ]C (?)' = Be glad Dyoniys. 5.76 grams, 24.25 mm overall, 20.14 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)
Acquired on the UK and EU art market before 2000. From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
The plate and hoop of these rings were soldered together. This system probably originated only in the late period of the Eastern Roman Empire, as evidenced by the faceting of the sides and the irregularity in the letters forming the name.
