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LOT 1340
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 1/4 in. (408 grams, 10.9 cm).
Ovoid in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration with a band of annulets below the neck; 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.
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 1340
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
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Byzantine Bronze Ring with Hatched Design
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
D-section hoop with a raised boss at the base, large oval bezel with hatched decoration. 10.88 grams, 23.12 mm overall, 19.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
Acquired Town Hall Antiques, Market Place, Woburn, Bedfordshire, UK, on 5th June 1998. Property of a West Northamptonshire, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by the original Town Hall Antiques invoice. -
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Round-section arms with ribbing at the finials, central cell set with an agate intaglio with an engraved cross motif, and a central X-motif on the reverse. 2.95 grams, 27 mm
Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
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Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Rectangular with rounded corners and pierced lug to each short side; low-relief scene with a horseman brandishing a spear against an infantryman with spear and shield; foliage and baseline. 8.82 grams, 58 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
