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LOT 1072
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (490 grams, 15 cm).
Pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, circumferential impressed bands to the shoulder and equator; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx London, UK, collection, 1990s.
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'.
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 Gefasse 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. 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 1072
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
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Vietnam M1 Helmet
1950-1970 A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £150
American Vietnam War era helmet with composition liner with leather lining; leather and fabric chin strap; ace over 1 painted to one side in white. 1.5 kg, 28.5 cm wide
The Kusmirek Collection, UK. -
Amlash Bronze Spear Blade
12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced midrib, square-section neck with flared ends and thick square-section tang. 299 grams, 26.7 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
The spearhead belongs to the type I of tripartite spears with broad mid-rib, reinforced shaft opening to reveal the tang and rounded shoulders. The blade with curved shoulders, a sharp point and a rectangular mid-rib. Stutzinger dated these pieces to 1200-1100 B.C. -
Winchester Repeating Rifle
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
Lever action 32/40 calibre Model 1894 with 66cm (26") round rifled barrel with buckhorn sights and full length tubular magazine; two piece wood stock with steel butt plate and fore-end; serial No. 446786 to underside of action, model, calibre and other details stamped; action working crisply. 3.55 kg, 113 cm
40 1/2 in.
Acquired from M J Noble Ltd, UK, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of invoice and listing and original NI Police Service Certificate.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.
