Description:

Ancient Near East, Holy Land, Byzantine Empire, ca. 10th to 12th century CE. A hefty, mold-formed pottery hand grenade with an acorn-shaped body, a rounded shoulder, and a narrow mouth. Formed from gray clay, the body is adorned with stamped decoration of several S-shaped motifs, stars, and raised teardrop designs. Grenades like this were meant to hold the famed and highly combustible substance known "Greek fire," though its exact composition is unknown; scholars posit that the mixture was composed of pine resin, naphtha, quicklime, and sulfur. Size: 5.8" L x 4.2" Diameter (14.7 cm x 10.7 cm)

Provenance: private London, United Kingdom collection; ex-private collection of an Oxford gentleman, United Kingdom; ex-old British collection, formed in the 1990s on the United Kingdom International art markets

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#187418

  • Condition: Some minor chips and light surface wear as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with good remains of relief decoration.

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July 9, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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