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LOT 0962
Large Byzantine Sgraffito Terracotta Bowl with Bird
CIRCA 8TH CENTURY A.D.
10 5/8 in. (1.2 kg, 27 cm wide).
With low basal ring and inverted rim; to the inner surface's centre a possibly later incised image of a standing bird amid three radiating curved lines. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx Atticart Ltd, London, SW5, UK.
Acquired from Proto Cultures Art, Manchester, UK, circa 2011.
From the private collection of Mr A Hills, Kent, UK.
Cf. similar design on an item in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, under accession no.L.2000.77.2.
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Piriform body with bands of impressed tongue-shaped motifs, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 611 grams, 14.3 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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. -
Byzantine Bronze Stamp Seal
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Cruciform seal with ring handle and knop finial; legend to the underside 'Λ/ΠΡΙC/O'. 90 grams, 49 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. European private collection. -
Byzantine Bronze Expanding-Arm Cross Mount
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Finial from a processional or altar cross, with incised guilloche bands to the obverse and central socket for a cabochon, lobes to the angles; pierced lower arm with attachment scars to both faces. 56.4 grams, 98 mm
Belgium collection, 1980s. From the collection of an London antiquarian.
These kind of crosses were mainly used for religious purposes. However, in 6th and 7th centuries A.D., they could be fixed at the top of the standards of the Roman Christian Army, as clearly described from the Arab sources speaking about the battle of Yarmouk. For this battle the Arab sources give a detailed description of the Roman standards, with at the top a golden cross, a golden cross tied to a silver chain, a cross with glittering jewels, a golden cross encrusted with jewels. The cross at the top of the standards, also of small dimensions like this one, is visible on miniature statuette of Roman Cavalrymen/Military Saints from Roman Egypt.
