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LOT 0305
Large Medieval Eurasian Iron Knight's Military Horse Bit
12TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
14 3/4 in. (624 grams, 37.5 cm).
The snaffle bit with two rectangular openwork cheekpieces decorated with an openwork plaque, the surface ornamented with scales and lozenge elements.
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
LiteratureCf. Shcerbakov, I. Dzys, Ledovoe Battle, 1242 A.D. (The Battle of the Peipus Lake), Moscow, 2001 (in Russian), fig.12, for a similar bit.
FootnotesThe snaffle bits consisted of two parts: a bit, which was placed in the horse's mouth, and cheekpieces, which were connected to the reins and head strap.
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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LOT 0305
Large Medieval Eurasian Iron Knight's Military Horse Bit
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
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Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 13th-8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Including leaf-shaped, barbed, and other types, all tanged, except one socketted. 428 grams total, 9.5-15.6 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.
Majority of these arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and C according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes A and C of type V are larger arrow heads with barbed shoulders and triangular heads. Very interesting is the socketted type: Greek, dated at the 8th century B.C. -
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Luristan Bronze Arrowhead
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Heater-shaped with barbs to the rear and midrib developing to a tang. 34 grams, 15.6 cm (139 grams total, 16.7 cm high including stand)
Ex Abelita family collection, 1988. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A piriform ceramic missile with band of impressed roundels to the shoulder and filler-hole above, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 567 grams, 10.5 cm
From a military inspired collection formed from the 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.
