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LOT 1420
Tudor Period Bronze Cannon Ball
CIRCA 16TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/2 in. (2.9 kg, 90 mm).
A medium-sized cannon ball, likely for a use with demi-cannon or a saker; polished.
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market in the 1970s-1990s.
Property of a Nottinghamshire, UK, gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Greek Macedonian Lead Inscribed Slingshot Group
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Each biconical in profile and lentoid in section with casting seam. 115 grams total, 33-36 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Lead sling bullet of this almond shape type were often decorated (like one of our specimens) with a winged thunderbolt on one side and on the other side with the inscription DEXAI "Catch!" in high relief. In the Hellenistic armies, the Rhodians were considered formidable slingers, and used as mercenaries by Hellenistic and Roman Consular armies. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
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. -
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A piriform missile with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 281 grams, 92 mm
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. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
