Luristan Bronze Sword with Handle

A piriform ceramic missile with band of S-scrolls to the shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 533 grams, 12 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.

With thick midrib, leaf-shaped blade with lateral spurs, deep tubular socket with fastening hole for the attachment to the wooden shaft. 250 grams, 32 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

The Chou chariot carried three crewmen, a driver, an archer on the left and a man armed with spear or dagger-axe on the right. The long spears were in bronze until the 300 B.C., when the Chou warriors began to adopt steel spearheads, 'as sharp as a bee's sting'.

Hollow-formed spherical pommel with rectangular slot to the underside to accept the tang, and smaller slot above to accommodate the piebed end; segmented outer face with alternating plain and pointillé surfaces. 119 grams, 39 mm



Found Suffolk, UK.