Chinese Liao Bone Arrowhead

Sloping shoulders and transverse slot to the upper face, lateral beast-head terminals; panel of palmette ornament to each broad face with tendrils, dentilled lower edge; Baltic Curonian type. 124 grams, 10 cm



From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12727-236128. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The cross guard finds good parallels with Baltic swords used by Prussian, Curonian, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a clear parallel in Tomsons, 2012, fig.2,7 but especially fig. 3. The Curonian Type T swords were thoroughly examined by Tomsons and he was able to date the type to the 11th to 13th centuries.

Bulbous in profile with domed mouth; radiating lines beneath the neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 395 grams, 11.3 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.

Piriform in profile with domed mouth; annulets to the upper body, lower body with vertical lines separated by triple crescents; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 409 grams, 11.4 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.