Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamp with Chi Rho

Piriform amuletic pendant with manus dei 'hand of God' motif to the side and wreath to the underside enclosing a cross flanked by 'AΩ'. 5 grams, 20 mm



From a London, UK, collection, 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12241-22289.

Composed of a slender carinated hoop adorned with filigree supporting a hollow-formed star-shaped bezel set with central polished cabochon garnet and granules, each of six arms pierced, remaining granule to one shoulder. 1.76 grams, 23.61 mm overall, 20.80 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S 1/2, USA 9 1/4, Europe 20.63, Japan 19)



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Piriform body with domed filler-hole surrounded with impressed petals, band of ring-and-dot motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 417 grams, 98 mm



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.