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LOT 1503
Byzantine Silver Merchant's Ring with Monogram
CIRCA 6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (3.88 grams, 23.33 mm overall, 18.75 x 20.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)).
With D-section hoop and flat ellipsoid bezel, incuse complex monogram including crosses potent, omega, rho, epsilon and other characters.
ProvenancePrivate collection, 1980s.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Private collection, London, UK.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1503
Byzantine Silver Merchant's Ring with Monogram
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£200 (EUR 232; USD 270) +BP*
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Estimate: £70 - 90 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
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. 619 grams, 12.8 cm
Ex 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'.
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. -
Byzantine Bronze Ring with Religious Scene
Circa 7th-8th century A.D.Estimate: £150 - 200 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £75
Narrow hoop with facets to outer face, disc bezel with twelve robed figures (apostles?) below swept wings, two flanking nimbate angels and median vesica with Mary Theotokos. 8.94 grams, 26.29 mm overall, 21.17 x 19.92 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V 1/2, USA 10 3/4, Europe 24.4, Japan 23)
Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Estimate: £70 - 90 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Bulbous body with rounded base and domed filler hole, impressed circumferential bands on the body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 919 grams, 13 cm
Ex 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'.
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.
