Viking Age Iron Long-Bladed Axehead

A substantial leaf-shaped blade with raised midrib extending to a short tang, ribbed fullers with curved ends extending to the shoulders. 883 grams total including stand, sword: 44 cm



From London Mayfair gallery, 1990s.

Luristan was hardly an ethnic or political entity, but the people of Luri had relations through warfare and trade with Sumerians, Lullubi, Assyrians, Babylonians and Elamites in a large time period, spanning from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ruling elites of warrior horsemen were buried in the graves with their weapons and horses which are the main sources of the Luristan bronze weapons.

Comprising: a Martini-Henry brass cartridge case with firing mark to the base; three lead heads of bullets fired from the Martini-Henry rifle; mounted in a display frame; supplied with brass nameplate 'Anglo-Zulu War / Khambula / March 29th 1879'. 332 grams total, 30-37 mm (13 x 13.5 cm including case)



Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. Accompanied by a handwritten provenance note.

Piriform body with lattice to upper body and impressed bands to shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 644 grams, 12.8 cm



From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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'.

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.