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LOT 0995
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/4 in. (553 grams, 11.9 cm).
A piriform missile with domed filler hole, impressed concentric circles to the body, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
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. 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.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0995
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
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Byzantine Bronze Cross Pendant
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Pendant cross of flared arms and central rectangular block with quatrefoil motif; pierced suspension lug. 4.54 grams, 34 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Byzantine Gold Cross Appliqué
7th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Equal-armed cross with chevron repoussé decoration to each arm. 0.89 grams, 41 mm
Formerly acquired between 1970 and the late 1999s. Ex property of a London W1, UK, collector. Property of a Californian, USA, collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Byzantine Bronze Pendant Chain Necklace
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Trichinopoly cord with coiled wire finials, hook-and-eye fastening. 18.3 grams, 57.2 cm
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The chain is a multiple 'loop-in-loop' type, a general type of necklace, especially in use in the Romano-Egyptian Jewellery of 3rd-7th century A.D. The early examples were done in Alexandria and the production lasted until the Arab conquest of 641 A.D.
