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DECORATED BYZANTINE GREEK FIRE GRENADE
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Description
900-1200 AD, Byzantine. Decorated Byzantine "fire grenade" comprising a brownish-grey vessel with a short out-turnned neck, a globular body decorated with raised almond-shaped nodules, and a pointed base. Globular vessels such as this examples are frequently interpreted as an early type of hand grenades. It is believed that these jars could have contained an incendiary agent such as the infamous "Greek fire" which was impervious to water, making them invaluable weapons in naval battles. Unfortunately, the recipe for "Greek fire was lost with the fall of the Byzantine empire, but it was likely a petrolum based mixture. Superb Condition, custom made stand. Size: L:190mm / W:115mm ; 1.1kg; Provenance: Private London collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK and European art market.
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900-1200 AD, Byzantine. Decorated Byzantine "fire grenade" comprising a brownish-grey vessel with a short out-turnned neck, a globular body decorated with raised almond-shaped nodules, and a pointed base. Globular vessels such as this examples are frequently interpreted as an early type of hand grenades. It is believed that these jars could have contained an incendiary agent such as the infamous "Greek fire" which was impervious to water, making them invaluable weapons in naval battles. Unfortunately, the recipe for "Greek fire was lost with the fall of the Byzantine empire, but it was likely a petrolum based mixture. Superb Condition, custom made stand. Size: L:190mm / W:115mm ; 1.1kg; Provenance: Private London collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK and European art market.
ANCIENT JEWELLERY, WEAPONRY AND CLASSICAL ART
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Bloomsbury
London
WC1A 2JH
United Kingdom
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