Vietnamese Officer's Iron Sword with Scabbard

Comprising a lentoid-section lanceolate head on a long flat-setion neck and triangular shoulder developing to a shallow conical socket. 200 grams, 36.3 cm



Property of a Berkshire, UK, gentleman collector.

Rounded, undecorated body with a rounded base; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 424 grams, 95 mm



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.

Egg-shaped with spiked prongs to the socket, narrow rounded cutting edge. 148 grams, 13.2 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

The 'claw mace' was an enigmatic ancient bronze weapon from the Bronze Age Near East. The hollow bulbous head was trailed by tines of varying lengths. It is believed that it was affixed over a wooden shaft and used like a club in combat, and not necessarily used as ceremonial weapon. The knife-edge bulb end could have broken bones and proven to be a formidable striking weapon requiring no skill to wield. The tines would have not only been decorative, but have served to add strength below the striking end to prevent breakage. In battle, maces were often used by commanders to display rank when giving orders in battle and leading soldiers, inspiring leadership and power. Egg-shaped with spiked sleeves or prongs, the top of the weapon with a narrow edge, the sleeves with small internal tangs for mounting.