Byzantine Silver Stamp Seal with Bird

Cruciform in plan and D-shaped in section with incised lines across the vertical arms, one T-shaped finial remaining; attachment lugs to reverse. 12.5 grams, 34 mm



Ex Den of Antiquity, Cambridge, UK. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s. Accompanied by a typed dealer's ticket.

Christian image of a dove resting modelled in the round on rectangular bezel, hoop and the dove's body both decorated with hatching. 9.08 grams, 40.97 mm overall, 19.28 x 18.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



Family collection formed in the 1970s. Ex property of a London lady. Northern Ireland collection.

Biconical in profile with pointillé and linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 544 grams, 13 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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.