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LOT 0217
Byzantine Steatite Mount with Saint John the Theologian
12TH CENTURY A.D. OR LATER
3/4 in. (2.52 grams, 19 mm).
Showing a bust of a man dressed in a cloak and with his head turned to look over his right shoulder, possibly depicting St John; rectangular in plan with rounded corners.
ProvenanceAcquired from Artemis Gallery, 2003.
Private collection, Europe.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0217
Byzantine Steatite Mount with Saint John the Theologian
Estimate £600 - 800€700 - 930 (for guidance only)$810 - 1,080 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Bulbous, undecorated body with rounded base; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 447 grams, 95 mm
From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. 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 Lead Pendant with Simeon Stylites
12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Discoid with integral loop, tondo with figural scene of Simeon Stylites standing on his column, two worshippers at the base and two angels above; legend to the rim. 22 grams, 48 mm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. -
Byzantine Lead Pilgrim's Head Holy Water Ampulla
Circa 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
Moulded ampulla formed as a head with a short pointed beard, aquiline nose, scalplock; open to the underside of the neck. 26.18 grams, 37 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
