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LOT 1437
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 1/4 in. (982 grams, 16 cm).
Piriform body with broad neck, stamped roulettes to the lower body and fronds to the shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
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 Gefäße aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16; the shape finds correspondence with a fire grenade in the Kars Museum, no.14.09.2009.
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 1437
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
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Turco-Mongol Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A hollow ceramic vessel with cylindrical body, carinated shoulder, short neck and domed mouth, bands of impressed herringbone patterns to the shoulder, waist and body, alternated with floral pattern around a groove; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 520 grams, 17 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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 piece was a sort of ceramic fire grenade, similar to the ones used by the Eastern Romans but of Turco-Mongol type. Apart from the use of manual flame-throwers, special corps of soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. -
'The Customs House' Tudor Inscribed Iron Hammer-Head
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Octagonal in section with one tapering end and one flat, circular end; square punch marks to one face in a pattern: '10B'. 2.82 kg, 24.2 cm
Found Thames foreshore, Customs House, London, UK, on Thursday 9th November 2006. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.LON-D6B085. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
13th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Mainly tanged examples of barbed and leaf-shaped types. 220 grams total, 7.5-13.6 cm
Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.
Although some of them are different in shape, these arrowheads are apparently related types of a polythetic group. Two basic deltoid forms are represented: one has a sharp, flat blade, the ends of which extend to form wings or barbs, and a prominent midrib extending into a long tang that often has a stop; the blade shape varies from deltoid to more manifestly triangular. The other form has no barbs, but it has a prominent midrib extending to the tang, and a narrow leaf-shaped blade.
