Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection

With ribbed openwork socket terminating in a butt formed of four cones, the blade expanding from the socket. 400 grams, 21 cm



From a London collection, early 2000s.

Piriform in profile with domed mouth and impressed motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 400 grams, 10.5 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.

Comprising a slender single-edged blade with etched maritime design; the hilt composed of a ribbed bone handle, a lion-head pommel, and an ornate guard with a folding edge to one side. 728 grams, 87.5 cm



From 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.