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LOT 1387
Large Medieval Leaf-Shaped Iron Arrowhead
13TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
6 1/2 in. (36.8 grams, 16.5 cm).
Comprising a broad scaphoid blade and bolster to the neck, round-section tang. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired York Antiques, Yorkshire, UK, in 2012.
Property of a Kent lady collector.
Accompanied by an original certificate of authenticity signed by Garry Edwards.
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AUCTIONS:
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Anglo-Saxon Iron Socketted Spearhead
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £163
Lentoid-section narrow blade with thick shoulder, closed socket; Swanton's Group I2. 159 grams, 26 cm
Found near Wetwang, East Yorkshire, UK. Acquired circa 2005. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.
The spear-heads of group I2 belong to a larger number of blades with more slender and regularly curved leaf-shapes than previous types. The majority present profiles more regularly curved from junction to tip, the broader part of the blade near the middle, with the fuller comformably longer. All of the group are much of the length varying between some 25 and 35 cm. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Drum-shaped body with stepped profile, bands of impressed rosette and other detailing, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 914 grams, 14.6 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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'.
This piece was a sort of a ceramic fire grenade, similar to the ones used by the Eastern Romans but of Turco-Mongol type. Apart from the use of manual flame-throwers, special corps of soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations, even in Burma. -
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Piriform body with thick ribs to the shoulder and impressed knotwork panels between, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 610 grams, 17.2 cm
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Berkshire, UK, 1990s.
The shape corresponds with a fire grenade in the Kars Museum, no.14.09.2009. 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.
