Civil War Iron Cannon Shot

Piriform body with band of impressed rosettes to the equator, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 547 grams, 12.1 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.

Comprising five large wheel clamps and twenty conical rivets; each C-section clamp with tongue-shaped later lugs with rivets to both sides; mounted on a custom-made wheel-shaped display mount. 19.35 kg, 98 cm diameter



Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. 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.12038-216335.

The custom of burying the deceased with chariots and the respective yoked animals has been documented since the 3rd millennium B.C. Bronze wheel clamps similar to these have been found in Elamite and Urartian graves, and are consistent with Assyrian and Elamite models. These clamps have important parallels, including those found from the Susa region which show an affinity with Assyrian iconography.

Each cheekpiece comprising the figure of a goddess on a rectangular base, standing in a long fringed robe and tiara with horns emerging from his head, grasping an attacking rampant winged griffin or winged lion in each hand, three loops to the reverse, perforated through the body through which the long mouthpiece passes. 1.03 kg, 24.5 cm



Acquired on the London art market, 1995. Ex Christie's London, 2nd April 2014, no.32. From the private collection of a North West London, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by a previous collection photograph and copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. 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.12049-217395.

The image of a deity holding two animals is ancient and found in many cultures and can depict either a male or female divinity. The goddess was known by the Greek as Potnia Theron, or "Lady of the Animals", a term first used by Homer in the Iliad.