Greek Mauritanian Kingdom Lead Slingshot of King Mastanesosus

Large ovoid body with impressed decoration and raised shoulder on one side; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 970 grams, 16 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.

Comprising: an iron and copper-alloy old style Gomai kabuto ridged helmet with suji-kabuto bowl, suji-tate raised ridges, terminating in a small four-stage tehen kanamono hole, fitted with a crossed plate; gilt-copper maedate (frontal ornament) with high raised datemono, antennae; mabizashi, (integral peak visor), lined with silk; fukigaeshi, (steel wings); the neck of the helmet is protected by a laminated shikoro (neck guard with solid plates), made of five steel plates (hachi tsuke- not-ita, ni-no-ita, san-no-ita, yon-no-ita), with red braid sugake-odoshi spaced lacing; the helmet with internal lining (ushibari); behind the nape of the bowl attached a kasa jirushi no kan ring for the red tuft; a fine mempō iron face mask, black lacquered on the outside, red on the inside, with high cheekbones engraved with deep wrinkles on either cheek, detachable nose with simple hooked nails odayori no kugi, flared nostrils and open mouth, moustache, to which is attached a laminated yodare-kake, (throat guard), made of four numbered iron gilded plates with red braid sugake-odoshi spaced lacing; a hybrid armour, composed of a okegawa-do type, constructed with large gilded iron solid horizontal plates joined by the lacing system known as sugake-odoshi in the upper part and kebiki-odoshi in the lower part; composing two valves (ni-mai) attached on the right side and over the shoulders by strings (aibiki no o), attached to it a kusazuri protection made from hardened leather plates hanging from the front and back of the dō to protect the lower body and upper leg; fastening lace agemaki-bow suspended from a ring on the back upper plate and on the sides of a central bronze dragon plaque; oda gote vambraces, arm protection with gilded lacquered splint iron plates (shino) connected with chain armour gusari fitted with tekkō gauntlets, the shino and tekkō decorated with gilded rosette motifs; mogani-sode, slightly curved shoulder guards, composed from six gilded raw-hide plates, fitted with red kake-o (suspending cords) and uke-o (securing cord), bordered by kesho-no-ita (strips of wood covered with leather) and a silk-lined kamuri-ita; Ita-haidate, thighguards, faced with fusa-gusari mail and connected with gilded rawhide splint armour, the upper part lined with silk; O-tateage no-suneate, with gilded iron splint armour (shino), fitted with small round armour plates (kikko) protecting the knees; in two metal-bound wooden transport cases. 29.95 kg total, 157 cm high (assembled)



Private collection, UK. Accompanied by a certificate issued by Chairman Hitoshi Nagata of the Japan Armour and Weapons Research Preservation Association, certificate no. Qing 1309. 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 search certificate number no.13254-252260.

With a short socketted shaft, the plain rectangular blade broadening towards the cutting edge; side holes on the shaft. 446 grams, 11.4 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Unadorned weapons, especially axes, adzes, and picks, were made by Luristan craftsmen using simple clay or stone bivalve moulds, into which a core was inserted to form the socket for the shaft. Typically, the metallic composition consisted of a combination of arsenical bronze and copper, together with a small percentage of lead.