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LOT 1020
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 in. (565 gram, 13 cm).
Egg-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, impressed rings and raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; 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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LOT 1020
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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Luristan Bronze Barbed Arrowhead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Formed with a midrib and tapering rectangular-section tang. 31 grams, 15.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Post Roman Squama Armour
5th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Each scale B-shaped, slightly convex sides, two equally spaced circular holes along the straight edge. 55 grams total, 19-38 mm
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
This object is not typical of 'squama' which usually has scales that are rectangular with one rounded end, and numerous attachment holes at the square end in pairs. However, it can be a type widespread in the post Roman age, with various specimens found in Britain (PAS SWYOR-CA6BBB, BM-95F434 and NCL-34BE90. -
Khazar Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Hanger
7th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £140
Formed as leaves or a flower bud with volutes emerging from a rectangular frame at the upper end, also with volutes, integral loop above; two mounting lugs to the reverse. 6.03 grams, 27 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
In the development of the Seversky Donets basin, together with the Alans and other bearers of the cremation rite, archaeology confirms the presence of tribes who practiced inhumation funeral rite with the eastern orientation of the dead (Netailovsky ground burial). Elements of belt sets, typical for this period, were found in these graves. Elements of the belt set similar to those found in the burials of the Netailovsky burial ground mainly come from the so-called ‘under-barrow burials with ditches’ of the 7th - first half of the 8th centuries, identified with the Khazars proper. Floral decoration of the belt elements, like this one, can be regarded as evidence of intensive contacts between the Khazars and Byzantium.
