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LOT 1391
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/4 in. (415 grams, 10.7 cm).
Piriform body with impressed panels and roundels to the shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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'.
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 1391
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
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Luristan Arrowhead Collection
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Comprising forty-five arrowheads of various types, including triangular, lanceolate and leaf-shaped; mainly tanged. 550 grams total, 2.9-16.1 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
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Smith and Wesson Old Model No 2 Revolver
1861-1874 A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
Also known as 'Model No 2 Army' with hinged frame, six shot .32 calibre rimfire cylinder with 'PATENTED APRIL 3 1855 JULY 5 1859 & DEC 18 1860' and 15cm (6") octagonal barrel marked 'SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS' to top with fixed extractor pin and spur trigger; serial number 47946 to butt strap with plain wood grip scales; action working. 690 grams, 27 cm
Acquired from Bolk Antique Arms, Netherlands, 2016. Ex Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by an original Bolk invoice.
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. -
Luristan Bronze Horse Bit with Animals
Circa 11th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Comprising a pair of ram-shaped cheek-pieces with a hole through the body for the straight mouthpiece with looped terminals. 690 grams, 17.5 cm wide
From a collection formed in Paris in the 1990s.
The horse bits were transformed by Luristan people in to expressions of applied art. Metalworkers employed animal motifs, both realistic and imaginary, for their cheek-pieces. The question of whether these horse bits were for real use or only for use in a funerary context is superfluous, as signs of wear have been documented, and the goads and loops on interiors are functionally designed. The use of such horse bits is clearly documented in Assyrian reliefs of the time of Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.).
