Roman Pattern-Welded Iron Spatha

Piriform body with domed filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 434 grams, 12.4 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

With a double-edged blade of Illerup-Wyhl Type, narrow parallel cutting edges tapering towards the point; remains of wooden scabbard on the blade and remains of wooden grip on the hilt; accompanied by a crescent-shaped iron chape. 1.02 kg total, 6.5-94.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11924-209661.

The iconographic sources indicate that Roman swords changed in the later 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. Longer swords, which were more popular within Germanic and Celtic cultures and more useful for fighting on horseback, were soon widespread among infantry units and mass-produced in the Roman workshops. They were brought home by foreigners after mercenary or auxiliary service in the Roman army. This, together the possibility of war booty, may explain why a great number of these swords have been found in the distant areas such as Nydam Mose, Eisbøl and Illerup Adal, all in modern Denmark.

With rounded bowl and flared rim; three sets of paired piercings for attachment of leather cheek-flaps; cracked; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.7 kg, 30.5 cm wide

Bowl pierced and cracked.

Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private European collection since 1998. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11573-199009.

The ‘pot’ or ‘bell’ helmet, found in contexts as early as the 8th century coffer grave (ad arca) from the Esquiline (Rome) and other graves (Coussin, 1926, p.88, fig.23; Sekunda, Northwood,1995, p.6, grave 94) was made from a single piece of bronze, while later Italic variants were fashioned from jointed plates (Connolly, 1981, p.102, figs.2-2a; Egg, 1988, p.223, variant Vetulonia). The skull was somewhat spherical, with a flared rim: in some Etruscan and Italic specimens, this was rivetted for strength.