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LOT 1167
Iron Age Celtic Sacrificed Sword and Axehead Group
2ND CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
4 - 23 1/2 in. (1.25 kg total, 10-60 cm).
Ritualistically bent in the middle of the blade; together with two socketted axeheads, one Roman, one Celtic. [3, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.
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AUCTIONS:
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Large Western Asiatic Bronze Socketted Axehead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Featuring wedge-shaped cheeks, oval socket and narrow butt. 922 grams, 21 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Bronze Age European Boss
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £42
Of repoussé form, slightly convex in profile with two concentric bands of pierced ornament and two attachment holes at edge. 36 grams, 95 cm
Ex English collection, pre-2000. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity. -
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Piriform in shape with raised lugs to the upper body with stamped concentric roundels between. 588 grams, 15.3 cm
Family collection, acquired 1980-2015. Ex property of a North London gentleman. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
