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LOT 1435
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
14TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/2 in. (464 grams, 14 cm).
Piriform in profile with domed mouth and stepped neck, raised vertical lugs on the body, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade.
ProvenanceFrom an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards.
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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1435
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
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Kriegsmarine WWI German Naval Officer's Sword
Early 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Comprising a slender single-edged blade with etched maritime design; the hilt composed of a ribbed bone handle, a lion-head pommel, and an ornate guard with a folding edge to one side. 728 grams, 87.5 cm
From the private collection of author and historian Dr DeWitt Bailey, one of the global authorities on the confederate army in the US civil war; thence by descent to his grandson. -
Indo-Persian Enamelled Brass Shield Pair
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Each with flange rim and four applied bosses to the face for attachment of the rear straps, design of reserved foliage, birds and harpies on an enamelled field. 996 grams total, 27.3 cm
Property of a Berkshire, UK, gentleman collector. -
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Viking Age Iron Pattern-Welded Sword with Decorated Hilt and Chape
11th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,750
Of Couronian type with straight blade tapering towards the point, shallow, tapering fullers, narrow tang, and boat-shaped lower guard with Jellinge Style decoration with wheel-type decoration to both sides, five-lobed pommel rivetted at the top; accompanied by a scabbard with Jellinge Style interlace decoration. 705 grams, 87.3 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 number no.12915-245172.
One of the most characteristic and numerous sword types in the early medieval period from the Baltic territory is a special type of a double-edged sword, characteristic of the entire Eastern Baltic region, which is known as the ‘Couronian’ sword, the name given by Latvian archaeologist E. Šturms in his article in 1936, based on the finds from his country.
