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LOT 1478
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade with Birds
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 3/4 in. (685 grams, 14.5 cm).
Piriform in profile with domed mouth; the lower body with three standing birds, concentric circles to the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom 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.
Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefäße aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.
FootnotesApart 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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1478
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade with Birds
Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
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Western Asiatic Stone Macehead
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
With plain globular body, circular short shaft expanding to a circular flat base. 386 grams, 83 mm
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. 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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Viking Age Iron Kirghiz Type Broad Axehead
8th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
With a wide blade, lower lateral flanges to the socket, and a circular hammer extension to the rear. 366 grams, 16.6 cm
From a North American collection formed in the 1970s-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Scythian Bronze 'Kuban' Type Helmet
7th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £18,200
Raised from a single sheet with rounded skull and semi-circular cut-outs for the eyes with raised rims, raised bar to the front extending to the top with a loop; ten circular perforations to the lower edge; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.47 kg, 23.5 cm wide
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. 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.12616-235608. 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.
This war helmet, typical of the Caucasian Scythians, belongs to the so-called Kuban type according to B. Z. Rabinovich, named after the north Caucasian region where the majority of this type of helmets were found. The helmet is almost identical to the helmet found in the 6th century barrow at Kelermes (Stanitsa Kelermeskaya), and in fact many of such helmets have been found in the Northern Caucasus. The helmets were typical of the noblemen fighting on horseback with spear, javelins and especially with bow and arrows.
