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LOT 1492
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
3 5/8 in. (294 grams, 91 mm).
Piriform body with segmented shoulder and impressed roundels, domed filler-hole, 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 1492
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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Saxon and Roman Iron Military Spur Display
Circa 2nd-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Comprising a Roman U-shaped spur with lateral lugs and prick spur; an Anglo-Saxon iron spur with barley twist body and small terminals. 254 grams total, 82-83 mm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
The Romans employed a light spur (calcar) made of bronze or iron, U-shaped and barely covering the heel. To the rear of the spur was a small point, and this form continued to be in use through the early Medieval period. The Saxon spurs were very similar to the Roman examples, although slightly larger and with a more spiked point. -
Viking Age Iron Broad Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
With elongated butt and flanged cylindrical socket, slender neck with broad, flaring cheeks, raised fore-edge to blade. 627 grams, 19.5 cm
Private collection, UK, formed 1980s-1990s. -
Luristan Bronze Axehead
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With a short blade flaring towards the cutting edge, rounded projection to the butt, rolled ridge around the shaft hole. 192 grams, 75 mm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.
The type corresponds to the Gernez type H.2.Fa, of axes with symmetrical collar, rear hump and rectangular blade. The exact provenance of only three axes of this type outside Luristan are known, mainly in Elam: one was found at Tepe Giyan, a second comes from a pit tomb in Susa and the last, a miniature, belongs to level VI of Tepe Gawra, dated to the last third of the 3rd millennium B.C. All the others are known as originating from Luristan.
