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LOT 1066
Khazar Gilt Sword Belt Buckle and Mount Group
9TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/2 - 2 3/8 in. (67 grams total, 37-59 mm).
Comprising four gilt copper-alloy sword belt fittings: a large buckle plate with ogival head and trefoil plate; a buckle with roughly D-shaped loop and shell-style plate, triangular-section tongue; a buckle composed of an oval head and roughly rectangular plate decorated with an X-motif and enigmatic forms in each quarter, articulate tongue; a C-section mount displaying raised floral vines. [4, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
Cf. Zakharow, A., Arendt, W., Studia Levedica, Archaeologischer Beitrag zur Geschichte der Altungarn im IX JH., Budapest, 1935, fig.12, p.24 (buckle), for a nearly identical specimen.
FootnotesThese wonderful fittings show similarities with examples from the Caucasus and Kuban regions. They show parallels with specimens from the Verchne-Szaltovo area, for example a bronze buckle from the catacomb grave no.11.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine Bronze Archer's Thumb Ring
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Comprising a tapering hoop and triangular plaque, three bands of incised ornament. 9.59 grams, 27.27 mm overall, 21.60 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X 1/2, USA 11 3/4, Europe 26.92, Japan 25)
Acquired by the vendor's father on the UK art market, before 1990. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Egg-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, impressed rings and raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 565 gram, 13 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 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. 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. -
Medieval Iron Hand Cannon Collection
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Each comprising a touch hole to base. 5.6 kg total. 9.5-12 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
At the beginning of the 14th century, among the infantry troops of the Western Middle Ages, developed the use of manual cannons (such as the Italian schioppetti, spingarde, and the German Fusstbusse). The new weapon had, compared to the bow and the crossbow, the advantage of not needing any particular care, of being manufactured more quickly and of being cheaper.
