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LOT 0204
Byzantine Gold Openwork Beads
12TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (13.8 grams, 22 mm each).
Each a spherical cage with ropework texturing, granule at each node; oval glass bead within. [2]
ProvenanceAcquired on the Swiss art market, 1998.
Private collection, Europe.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0204
Byzantine Gold Openwork Beads
Estimate £800 - 1,000€930 - 1,160 (for guidance only)$1,080 - 1,350 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Piriform in profile with tiered neck and domed mouth; the upper body and neck decorated with starburst motifs, a circumferential band of lozenges with starburst motifs inside below the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 548 grams, 12 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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 Terracotta Mount
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A thick discoid mount with a central low-relief figure of a beast facing back, crosses and annulets on the field. 79 grams, 56 mm
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Bird
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Flat-section hoop and a large discoid bezel with a stylised bird, possibly a dove, with its wings spread. 6.23 grams, 22.66 mm overall, 19.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
