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LOT 1829
Luristan Bronze Socketted Spearhead
9TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
7 1/4 in. (80 grams, 18.6 cm).
Comprising a tapering tubular socket with raised ribs, a triangular blade with a raised midrib; ferrel collars to the shaft.
ProvenanceEx Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
LiteratureFor a similar spearhead see Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.XXXV, nos.19.
FootnotesThese kinds of spearheads were realised by casting in a mould. They were of different lengths and used by Luristan, Hamadan, early Median and Achaemenid warriors. The bronze rings were destined to reinforce the structure of the bronze shaft, because the blow, with this spear, was usually delivered by grasping the spear with two hands.
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Roman Lead Slingshot of Quintus Sertorius
Sertorian Wars, 82-72 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Lentoid in form with raised legend to reverse: 'Q.SERT / PPOR C'; casting flange to rim. 57.2 grams, 33 mm
Acquired on the UK art market, early 2000s. Property of a London, UK, antiquarian.
The inscription refers to Quintus Sertorius, the Roman statesman and general (123-72 BC). -
Luristan Bronze Macehead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
With a globular body and tubular socket with two raised collars above and a flaring base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 329 grams total, mace: 83 mm
From the collection of the late Sir Clinton Charles Donald Cory, 5th Baronet of Coryton. Ex Philip Auction House, 24 September 1985. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Piriform in profile with impressed decoration on the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 754 grams, 13.9 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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.
