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LOT 1436
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/8 in. (422 grams, 11.2 cm).
Piriform missile with domed filler-hole, two rows of ring-and-dot decoration to the upper body, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a specialist London, UK, arms and armour collection, 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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1436
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
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Medieval Decorated Iron Axe-Hammer
Circa 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
With a broad curved blade, narrow neck and hammer extension to the rear; round socket; punched ornament to both cheeks of the blade. 305 grams, 11.9 cm
Ex North American collection, 1970s-1990s. -
Iron Age Celtic Iron Axehead
Britain, circa 4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
With lateral flanges curved inwards to form an open socket, long neck, broad flared blade. 278 grams, 11.5 cm
Found South East England. From the private collection of Kenneth Acquired Coincraft, London, UK. Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.IA25; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. -
Luristan Bronze Adze-Axe
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With central shaft hole and blade set at a right angle. 1.25 kg, 25.7 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The adze-axe was a fundamental axe of many Bronze Age ancient cultures. Its form was one that lends itself to dual purposes - for war and work. As a tool, it functioned in woodwork in fabricating a variety of objects and as a weapon, its heavy mass and compact form make it a very deadly striking and chopping weapon, even able to defeat light armour.
