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LOT 1469
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/4 in. (593 grams, 12 cm).
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, band of large concentric circles and groups of triangles to the shoulder; 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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LOT 1469
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
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Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Two with a sturdy square-section tang, narrow barbed head with midrib; the others with triangular or foliate blades; each with a raised midrib and a short tang. 212 grams total, 10.1-16.2 cm
Ex London collection, formed 1990-2000.
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. -
Cased Napoleonic 'Published' French Military Artefact Collection
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Including musketballs, military buckles and frames, musket flints, buttons, a single-edged knife and other items in a hinged wooden case; many of these objects are published in the Detector Finds book series. 1.56 kg total, 32 x 25 x 7.5 cm including case
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Mesopotamian Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 1800-900 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Including triangular-section, barbed, paddle-shaped, and other types. 353 grams total, 4-12 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.
Paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib and the blade shaped to a point were typical of Old Babylonian Empire. The shoulders were pronounced and the arrowhead had a rectangular-section tapering tang. They are the majority in this group, which comprises also barbed triangular arrowheads of type V from Marlik-Luristan, and one interesting specimen of trilobate arrowhead.
