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LOT 1434
Large Mahogany Telescope with Brass Fittings
19TH CENTURY A.D.
21 5/8 in. (1.05 kg, 55 cm).
Large wooden barrel with brass eyepiece and inner tube, marked in copperplate script 'T.Harris & Son, London / Day or Night'. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of author and historian Dr DeWitt Bailey, one of the global authorities on the confederate army in the US civil war; thence by descent to his grandson.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Greek Lead Slingshot
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΠΕΤΑ'. 30.89 grams, 29 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, Munich, Germany.
The term ‘peta’ likely refers to the petaon, a type of ancient Greek leather-pouch or hand-sling, which was used to throw a projectile with a heavy, flat dart known as a kestros. It was not connected with the slingshots, but its meaning was probably linked to the missile throwing activity. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Piriform in profile,incised concentric rings on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 604 grams, 14 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. 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. -
Medieval Iron Single-Edged Dagger
12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
With thick straight back and gently tapering cutting edge, flat tang pierced to accept rivets to attach scales. 264 grams, 42.3 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. From an East Anglian, UK, private collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
