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_900x900.jpg "Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade")
_200x200.jpg "Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade")
.jpg "Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade")
LOT 1112
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (588 grams, 15.3 cm).
Piriform in shape with raised lugs to the upper body with stamped concentric roundels between. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFamily collection, acquired 1980-2015.
Ex property of a North London gentleman.
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 Gefasse 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. 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 1112
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
-
Tranter 3rd Model Double Trigger Percussion Revolver
From 1860 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £819
Solid frame, double trigger 54 bore revolver with 15cm (6") barrel, five-shot cylinder bearing London proof marks, hinged left side loading arm screwed to frame with unclear serial number to right frame and marked 'TRANTER' to cocking trigger; foliate engraved frame and chequered wood grip; action working. 975 grams, 29 cm
Acquired from Michael J Noble Ltd, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the Noble invoice.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent. -
Victorian Police Truncheon
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Composed of a tapering wooden blunt-tipped shaft, waisted grip with raised ribs and 'button' terminal. 309 grams, 43 cm
The Kusmirek Collection, UK. -
North-West Persian Bronze Spearhead
Early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Short triangular two-edged blade with thick midrib, long round-section neck with V-shaped recesses to the lower end, tapering square-section tang. 268 grams, 34.5 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
The spearhead belongs to a typology of spears widespread in the Marlik region, which Negahban divided into two categories. This spearhead belongs to type II, spearheads with triangular blades with rather short blade and shaft with a long tang, the total length of the blade being less than that of the shaft and tang together.
