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LOT 1514
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
3 3/4 in. (390 grams, 96 mm).
Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx important collection of weaponry, London, UK, 1980-1990s.
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. v
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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LOT 1514
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Estimate £70 - 90€81 - 104 (for guidance only)$95 - 122 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine Mould-Blown Translucent Pale Green Glass Three-Handled Jug
5th-8th century A.D.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £550
Hexagonal body with a short cylindrical neck and a flaring rim, three applied handles extending from the rim to the shoulders, geometric decoration on the panels. 58 grams, 93 mm high
Roman glass from an important London collection, acquired from the early 1980s. From an important London glass collection, 1990s. Accompanied by a typed previous catalogue information page with provenance.
These octagonal or hexagonal jugs or jars were possibly made as tokens for pilgrims visiting the holy sites in Jerusalem or for use in burial rites. In the late 6th and early 7th century A.D., they were mass-produced in moulds for the pilgrim trade in the Holy Land, in the vicinity of the holy city, but they were found all around the Mediterranean, especially in islands like Cyprus, an important place on the sea route that brought pilgrims to Jerusalem. Such vessels were probably filled with oil from holy sites and sold to pilgrims. -
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Double Cross
Circa 8th-9th century A.D.Estimate: £60 - 80 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Flat hoop with transverse ribbing to the shoulders, disc bezel with two crosses potent in an incuse border. 3.50 grams, 21.40 mm overall, 18.70 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)
Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. -
Byzantine Bronze Bracelet Chain Section with Busts
Circa 11th century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Comprising a bifacial disc with segmented border, articulated at each end with a segmented ring attached; obverse with incuse nimbate facing bust of Christ with cross and flanking 'IC HC' legend; reverse with facing nimbate female bust with hands in orans pose. 13.6 grams, 66 mm
Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent.
