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LOT 1547
Greek Lead Slingshot with Alpha
1ST CENTURY B.C.
1 1/4 in. (30.9 grams, 33 mm).
Lenticular type with casting seam to the rim, raised iconic Greek letter A (alpha) on one side, and the other with raised pellets.
ProvenanceEx German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Cf. Schinco, G., Small, A.M., 'A previously unknown siege of Botromagno/Silvium: the evidence of slingshots from Gravina in Puglia (Provincia di Bari, Puglia)' in Papers of the British School at Rome, 2019, pp.1-52, fig.31,22 (type Volling IIb).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1547
Greek Lead Slingshot with Alpha
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£50 (EUR 58; USD 68) +BP*
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Estimate: £80 - 100 (+bp*)
Bids: 1 | Current Bid: £5
Ovoid body with pointed base and domed filler-hole, circumferential band above the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 380 grams, 11 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s. 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. -
Greek Lead Slingshot Collection
3rd-2nd century B.C.Estimate: £60 - 80 (+bp*)
Bids: 8 | Current Bid: £60
Mainly biconical types, some with raised lettering and other ornament; supplied with old collector's record tickets. 411 grams total, 29-32 mm
Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of a Middlesex gentleman. -
Luristan Bronze Short Sword with Crescent-Shaped Pommel
10th century B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Bids: 1 | Current Bid: £250
Comprising a triangular blade with integral ribbed handle and a crescentic pommel. 450 grams, 40 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
These kinds of bronze daggers or dirks, typical of Marlik culture, were cast in a one piece mould according to Negahban, although in some specimens the guard was later cast into the blade. The separate sets of encircling ribs on the grips are again typical of swords from the Marlik area. In our specimen the grip is opened on one side to receive organic filling.
