Byzantine Ceramic Oil Lamp Collection

Comprising a piriform body with low-relief linear and ring-and-dot decoration, a tall handle with a forked finial at the rear, and a low basal ring. 62.6 grams, 10.6 cm



From the collection of a Yorkshire, UK gentleman, items collected in the Holy Land in the 1960s.

D-section hoop with raised circular bezel showing a stylised walking bird with four stars on the field. 6.20 grams, 25.12 mm overall, 17.93 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



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

bulbous in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 338 grams, 10 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.