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LOT 1484
Byzantine Decorated Bronze Archer's Thumb Ring
10TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (7.35 grams, 34.98 mm overall, 21,50 x 25.28 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Y 1/2, USA 12 1/4, Europe 28.2, Japan 27)).
With triangular flange to one edge, incised hatching. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.
LiteratureCf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 545, 546, for type.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Piriform in profile,incised concentric rings on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 604 grams, 14 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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. -
Mixed Military and Other Artefact Collection
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Including tailor's chalk, French military medal with ribbon and plate 'Mlaic 1976', square-section clout nails, bone-handled folding fork and corkscrew and other items. 415 grams total, 3.3-10.9 cm
From the private collection of author and historian Dr DeWitt Bailey, one of the global authorities on the confederate army in the US civil war; thence by descent to his grandson. -
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Viking Age Iron Pattern-Welded Sword with Decorated Hilt and Chape
11th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,750
Of Couronian type with straight blade tapering towards the point, shallow, tapering fullers, narrow tang, and boat-shaped lower guard with Jellinge Style decoration with wheel-type decoration to both sides, five-lobed pommel rivetted at the top; accompanied by a scabbard with Jellinge Style interlace decoration. 705 grams, 87.3 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12915-245172.
One of the most characteristic and numerous sword types in the early medieval period from the Baltic territory is a special type of a double-edged sword, characteristic of the entire Eastern Baltic region, which is known as the ‘Couronian’ sword, the name given by Latvian archaeologist E. Šturms in his article in 1936, based on the finds from his country.
