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LOT 0175
Byzantine Silver Swan-Necked Spoon with Cross
5TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
9 in. (46 grams, 22.7 cm).
Shallow piriform bowl attached to a stepped baluster, hexagonal-section handle with spike finial; engraved cross potent to either side of the junction.
ProvenanceFrench private collection.
Acquired on the French art market in 2011.
Acquired by the present owner at the above.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12240-222347.
Cf. Shelton, K.J., The Esquiline Treasure, London, 1981, item 27, for type.
FootnotesThe lateral incised cross motifs suggest that the spoon may have had a liturgical purpose, possibly associated with baptism.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0175
Byzantine Silver Swan-Necked Spoon with Cross
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400€2,090 - 2,780 (for guidance only)$2,430 - 3,240 (for guidance only)
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Bronze Plaque with Lion
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Rectangular belt-buckle plaque with hinge knuckles and slotted rear; low-relief panel with advancing lion motif. 11.7 grams, 40 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Byzantine Decorated Bronze Buckle
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Kidney-shaped in plan with segmented loop, curved tongue with rectangular shield, incised zigzag and pseudo-script. 26.5 grams, 41 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, four lugs to the shoulder, body decorated with four vertical bands of lozenges flanked by annulets, a horizonal band of tightly arranged lozenges above the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 486 grams, 13.8 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.
