Byzantine Silver-Gilt Ring with Saint

Drum-shaped body with narrow base, two vertical flanges running from the rim and between them two D-shaped male masks with low discoid caps; later inscribed: '1812 [ΕΤ]ΟΥ IΟΥ[ΛIΟΥ] 27 ІωÁΝΙΣ ΚΟΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΠΕΤΡΙΚΙ' (July the 27, year 1812 of Iohannes Konstantinos Petrikos). 11.15 kg, 22 cm wide



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Piriform body with vertical ribbing along the whole length, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 556 grams, 13.1 cm



From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

Tongue-shaped with an applied openwork panel, cross-in-wheel motif within a segmented border and zoomorphic detailing; loops to the broad end and knop finial to the rounded end. 21.2 grams, 57 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Within the category of these buckles to which the current example belongs to, the plate was decorated with an openwork pattern which was rivetted onto a cover plate. The central decoration varied between purely vegetal depictions, mostly vines, and allegorical animal scenes, which J. Werner interpreted as a pictorial implementation of the animal symbolism of Physiologus.