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LOT 0981
Byzantine Decorated Bronze Weight
CIRCA 6TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (81.9 grams, 37 mm).
Square in plan and with chamfered edges, small bale; low-relief design of a voided cross flanked by curlicues above two voided gamma characters with points. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. Weber, K., Byzantinische Münzgewichte: Materialkorpus für 1-Nomisma-Gewichte, Schwelm, 2009, table 4.
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): £111
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, three rows of impressed ring-and-dot motifs to the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 460 grams, 11.4 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. -
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Discoid foil mount with beaded wire rim and two loops to the reverse; repoussé bust of Mary with 'M' above. 1.45 grams, 25 mm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. -
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UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.
