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LOT 1506
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/8 in. (787 grams, 12.9 cm).
Piriform body with domed filler-hole; 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 1506
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
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Medieval and Later Iron Axehead and Adze Group
15th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Comprising: small blade with offset triangular socket, flared edge; adze with split socket and small flared blade. 157 grams total, 69-82 mm
From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet(s) with reference nos.A72 & A73. -
Medieval Iron Single-Handed Sword with Decorated Bronze Pommel
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,510
Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVa, cross style 1, with two-edged lenticular-section piled blade with taper overall to a narrow point; quillons round in section with taper to ends and bronze lobe finials, median locket to lower edge; flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; the pommel a variant of Oakshott's Type V with median vertical band to each face, piriform block with lateral scoops. 1.07 kg, 105 cm
From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany, mid-20th century. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13301-257660.
The Type XVa of Oakeshott has a blade similar to the Type XV, being generally more slender than its parent type, and having a grip which is much longer, ranging from seven to nine inches long or more. This style of sword appears to have been popular in the 14th century, based on surviving examples. Interesting is here the style of the quillons, which are rare: in style 11 the guard may be long or short, curved or straight, but always characterised by knobbed ends and a circular or rhomboidal in section. A sword found in the River Ouse in Surrey shows a similar blade, with a flat oval diamond section, and the outline is such that the sword could be regarded as of type XV, although many swords of type XVII are of the same shape and proportions. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Collection
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Comprising sixteen tanged arrowheads, mostly barbed types. 313 grams total, 6.5-14.7 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.
