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LOT 1468
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Bomb or Hand Grenade
14TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
6 1/2 in. (460 grams, 16.5 cm).
Piriform in profile with a domed mouth and a stepped neck, incised decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s.
LiteratureCf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefäße aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.
FootnotesApart 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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LOT 1468
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
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Luristan Bronze Spearhead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with a raised midrib extending to the shaft with a flared collar, rectangular-section tang with curved end and a button finial. 608 grams, 34.2 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
The type belongs to the category of tripartite lances with a long, pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. In this typology, the blade, of rhomboidal section, is usually well balanced. The stem, medium or short, is widened at its base and forms a fairly clean stop. Elements of the shaft of a similar spear found at Tepe Hissar have allowed the reconstruction of the length of the spear reaching up to 1.40 m. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Ovoid in profile with a rounded base, a band of ring-and-dot motifs on the shoulder and radiating indentations on the base; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 783 grams, 14.7 cm
From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. 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. -
Luristan Socketted Bronze Adze
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Short tubular socket, perpendicular rectangular-section blade with convex cutting edge. 326 grams, 11.1 cm
From an old English collection, 1980s.
