Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade

Piriform body with scaphoid flanges to the upper body, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. Cf. 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. 51 grams, 12.1 cm (4 3/4 in.).

From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.