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LOT 1609
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
6 1/2 in. (630 grams, 16.4 cm).
A hollow vessel with cylindrical body, short neck and domed mouth, impressed linear decoration to the body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards.
Academic report by 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.
Cf. 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. 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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1609
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
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Mesopotamian Bronze Javelin Head
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With foliate blade, raised mid-rib, medium length stem widening at its base and forming a small stop, rectangular-section tang with bent terminal. 184 grams, 46.7 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The specimen belongs to the category of tripartite spears with long pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. They seem to be a Mesopotamian and Susian (Elamite) variant, and this type also includes decorated blades, like the spear from Tello with the inscription 'King of Kish'. -
Byzantine Iron Bearded Axehead with Spike
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Double-edged battle axe with broad trapezoidal blade elongated towards the bottom, with rhomboidal and blunt fixing hole shaft, the opposite end formed by a long and thick spike. 411 grams, 22.7 cm
Ex USA private collection, 1970s-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The double-edged axe was used by the Roman cavalry between the 9th and 11th centuries. The correspondence of this example with the types described by Emperor Leo VI the Wise, is surprising: it is clear that this typology was not a working tool but a war axe, suitable for breaking helmets, breastplates, shields and skulls since it inflicted devastating blows to the head and arms by damaging the protective equipment. -
Greek Lead Impacted Slingshot Group
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Three lentoid-section lead slingshots (glandae), each deformed due to impact, one with the Greek letters 'ΓΕΜ…ΔΑ' (Ghemonidas?). 118 grams total, 25-31 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The use of lead slingshots in battle is attested in Greece as early as the 5th century B.C. Numerous finds were excavated in Olynthus, usually olive or plump-almond-shape. The type continued to be used in the Italian peninsula, and similar specimens, bearing the title ‘Commander of the Units of Slingers’ have been attested from the period of the Punic Wars.
