Byzantine Bronze Segmented Strap

With pierced polyhedral upper and knop above, body formed as two intersecting fusiform bars with recess. 32.8 grams, 66 mm



Belgian collection, 1980s. From the collection of an London antiquarian.

Formed as an expanding-arm cross pommy with lower arm developing two lateral loops with shallow recesses, ring-and-dot motifs; pin-lugs and catch to reverse. 20.1 grams, 65 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

Piriform body with domed filler-hole, the upper body decorated with vertical herringbone patterns separated by linear motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 449 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.