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LOT 0786
Byzantine Silver and Bronze Rings with Chi Rho Symbols
8TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 - 1 in. (7.32 grams total, 18-24 mm).
One with incised lines and punched crescent; one with seriffed Chi Rho symbol. [2, No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of an EU gentleman formed in the 1990s.
Acquired on the UK market.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Silver and Bronze Rings with Chi Rho Symbols
8th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
One with incised lines and punched crescent; one with seriffed Chi Rho symbol. 7.32 grams total, 18-24 mm
From the collection of an EU gentleman formed in the 1990s. Acquired on the UK market. -
Byzantine Ceramic 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Of piriform shape, decorated with stamped sunburst and pellet-in-triangle motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 522 grams, 12.1 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. 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'.
Apart 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. -
Byzantine Redware Bread Seal
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Bearing a central hand motif and surrounding inscription in Greek letters 'K E R A Y I O I T H I M (?)' probably the mark of the producer. 239 grams, 10.2 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Museum collections hold many stamps or seals of different forms, materials and shapes, some bearing inscriptions or images. These could have been used on bread, dough or on fresh clay to stamp amphoras, bricks, lamps and other clay objects.
