Byzantine Silver Ring with Blue Spinel Cabochon

Length of chain with pendant discs, each a plain roundel with small cruciform void to the lower edge. 17.2 grams, 33 cm long



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.

Piriform body with vertical ribs and impressed roundels across the whole surface, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 662 grams, 15.5 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.

Comprising two pendants: one a cross pommée with ring-and-dot decoration; the other with bud finials and similar decoration. 9.25 grams total, 32-36 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.