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LOT 1078
Byzantine Gold Pendant with Glass Centre
6TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/4 in. (10.57 grams, 46 mm).
Discoid plaque with radiating granule clusters to the rim, central cell with inset iridescent glass cabochon, suspension loop above and five more below to attach dangles.
ProvenanceEx private European collection, 1980s.
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired in 1999.
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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Byzantine Silver Swan-Necked Ligula Spoon with Cross
5th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £833
Shallow piriform bowl attached to a stepped baluster, hexagonal-section handle with spike finial; engraved cross potent to either side of the junction. 46 grams, 22.7 cm
French private collection. Acquired on the French art market in 2011. Acquired by the present owner at the above. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12240-222347. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The lateral incised cross motifs suggest that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, possibly associated with baptism. -
Byzantine Enamelled Bronze Bifacial Temple Ring
11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Crescentic with bifacial motif of saltire cross, panels of blue, red and yellow enamel; flat hoop with pelletted decoration; possibly Kievan Rus workmanship. 13 grams, 42 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Piriform in profile with domed mouth; four raised lugs to the body with incised hatching in between; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 571 grams, 14.4 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.
