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LOT 1003
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/8 in. (426 grams, 10.5 cm).
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, stamped flowers and ring-and-dot motifs 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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1003
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
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Byzantine Gilt Bronze Decorated Buckle
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Comprising: buckle loop with dentilled outer edge, impressed triangular cells; D-section tongue curved over the forward edge of the loop, with rectangular shield to the rear with slot; plate formed as a vesica-shaped rear panel with rosette motif and billetted border, forward edge with cells flanking; knop finial to rear edge; obverse with three pierced lugs for attachment to the belt; ferrous hinge-pin. 56 grams, 80 mm
Private UK collection. Acquired in the 1980s. Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, the upper body with tight rows of impressed teardrop-shaped motifs, two deep circumferential grooves beneath; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 729 grams, 16 cm
From 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'.
Apart 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. -
Byzantine Gold Filigree Heart-Shaped Pendant
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Hollow with three filigree circles to the underside each with scrolled filigree fill, pierced sidewall, three openwork filigree domes to the obverse with granules and a tubular cell to the apex of the lower one. 2.92 grams, 24 mm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970s-2000s.
