Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection

Curved broad blade with chin to the lower edge, rounded socket with lateral triangular extensions and a rectangular extension to the rear; restored and conserved. 726 grams, 18 cm



From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This type of bearded axe seems to correspond to the E2 category of the Viking axe classification, but also has affinity with the Slavic type of axes Y. Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx; the neck on such a 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.

Nine arrowheads most of deltoid form, having a sharp flat barbed blade and prominent midrib extending to a long tang; one with head without barbs, but prominent midrib extending to a tang; one with long tang and small pyramidal shape. 149 grams total, 5.4-18 cm

Fine condition.

Formerly from a late Japanese gentleman's collection, 1970-2010. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This type of head was in use from the last centuries of the second through to the early centuries of the first millennium BC, with varieties of barbed heads continuing to be employed for a time after the ninth century BC, during the Neo-Assyrian period.

Rounded body with tiered neck and domed mouth, body decorated with tightly arranged teardrop-shaped motifs with large rosettes on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 757 grams, 14.1 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'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.