Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1150
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
CIRCA 11TH-14TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (573 grams, 15 cm).
With a piriform body and domed mouth, stepped rings to the foot, engraved decoration on the shoulders with crosses and grapes; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
Provenance
Acquired 1990s.
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.
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'.
Literature
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; for the way of employment see D'Amato, R., Byzantine Naval Forces 1261-1461, The Roman Empire's Last Marines, Oxford, 2016, plate B, p.41.
Footnotes
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also in 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.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 1150
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
RELATED LOTS
-
.jpg)
Large Byzantine Silver Archer's Ring
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Comprising a hoop with reserved triangular ornament on the edges and triangular plaque with foliage motifs, raised central panel with frond motif. 22.61 grams, 34.77 mm overall, 25.16 mm internal diameter
Acquired in the 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.
Archer rings in Late Byzantium and the medieval Balkans were connected with the employment of the powerful composite bow, but very often, in the 14th century they served as insignia of rank for aristocratic noblemen. Archaeological findings of archers’ rings originate mainly from fortified towns, including mining centres. Many were made in bone, simple in design and undecorated. In contrast, the ones made in bronze and silver were usually decorated in rather uniform style, consisting of floral motifs on the head, mostly tulip and foliage, and linear motifs around the edges. This decoration combined Turkish, Central European and Eastern Roman traditional patterns. -
Heavy Western Asiatic Leaf-Shaped Spearhead
14th-10th century B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
The leaf-shaped ovate blade with rounded, gently curved shoulders and raised midrib, flat rectangular-sectioned tang tapering to a sharply bent end with a fastening button. 844 grams, 46.2 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
Similar spearheads were excavated in the Marlik Royal cemetery by Dr Negahban, see for example in tomb 47, Trench XXIIE. They were the evolution of a typology which began much earlier in Mesopotamia and the fertile crescent, the type 4 of the Stronach classification, with straight tang and square section, usually thickened at the base with a button tang. The foliate blade was wide and exaggerated in some specimens excavated at Marlik. -
European Savoyard Burgonet
Circa 1620 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Comprising a full face shield with broad wavy bars and a small mouth opening, a wide hinged visor; the visor and the front section of the helmet secured by large hook-and-eye closures on the right-hand side; the crown with a tall ridge running from front to back, small collar for protecting the neck. 1.14 kg, 25 cm high
Acquired from Andrew Bennett in 2016. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a payment confirmation from Andrew Bennett, dated 1st June 2016. 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. 11768-203986.
This variation of the burgonet helmet is thought to have originated in the Savoy region of southeast France, and was very popular with heavy cavalry (Reiters) serving with a variety of Continental armies of the period. The term Savoyard is a reference to a large number of these helmets that the Swiss captured from the troops of the Duke of Savoy during an unsuccessful assault on the city of Genoa in 1602. The undulated bars and the small mouth of the visor are all indicative of the Savoyard style. The hinges on the side allowed the front of the helmet as a whole to be lifted away from the rear, aiding the wearer to place it over his head.
