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LOT 0953
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 1/2 in. (1.16 kg, 16.5 cm).
Piriform in profile with narrow point and domed mouth; circumferential concentric lines to the shoulder and beneath the neck enclosing bands of radiating lines; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and 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.
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 0953
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
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Byzantine Gold Earring with Cross and Garnet
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £360
Penannular hoop with applied collars, applied discoid plaque with beaded rum and openwork cross to the centre, lateral granule clusters, facetted garnet bead below. 6.53 grams, 44 mm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
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Byzantine Silver Merchant's Ring with Monogram
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Discoid bezel with central cross pommee flanked by enigmatic characters. 4.22 grams, 25.08 mm overall, 21.10 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.4, Japan 23)
Ex Mr A. collection, Florida, USA. Private collection, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Byzantine Mould-Blown Christian Glass Vessel
Late 6th-early 7th century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
Comprising a pale-blue hexagonal body with cylindrical neck and rolled rim, applied tubular handle; rosette to base, the side panels with alternating motifs: two of the panels with a palm-leaf, two with large conjoining lozenges with bosses, and the other two with crosshatching, each small lozenge with a pellet to the centre. 90 grams, 16 cm
From an important London collection of glass, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
