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LOT 1369
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/8 in. (567 grams, 10.5 cm).
A piriform ceramic missile with band of impressed roundels to the shoulder and filler-hole above, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a military inspired collection formed from the 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 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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LOT 1369
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
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Sarmatian Bronze Belt Clasp with Hare and Hound
Circa 3rd-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Openwork rectangular panel with hare-and-hound motif, two lateral fixing lugs. 19.2 grams, 60 mm
Property of the vendor's grandfather, thence by family descent, circa 1985. From the private collection of a New York, USA gentleman.
Belt plaques with zoomorphic motifs illustrate not only the recognised unity of the zoomorphic art of the steppes, but also the links between the Sarmatians and the eastern nomadic groups. Important in this respect are similar buckles with representations of camels (Krasnogorovka III, Kurgan 11) or Ordos-style bronze plaques from the Kuban. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Short Sword
1800-1600 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
With a rectangular grooved tang with vertical lines running to the crescent pommel, the rhomboid ricasso extending over the blade, blade with raised ridge tapering to a point. 533 grams, 49 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Luristan Bronze Sword with Decorated Stone Pommel
13th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
With solid cast hilt with penannular guard and a horizontally ribbed grip; a massive star-shaped pommel and a multi-fullered blade tapering to a sharp tip; handle restored. 1.03 kg, 63.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
According to Moorey, such category of swords were distributed in the Northern Iran area, as proved by the Amarlu finds. Based on the example from the Ashmolean Museum, he dated them to the end of the 2nd millennium B.C., more precisely to a period between 1400-1200 B.C. The type was in use until the 7th century B.C.
