Classical Antiques

Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade

The auction will start in __ days and __ hours

Start price: £100

Estimated price: £120 - £160

Auction house commission: 15%

VAT: On commission only

Piriform body with vertical ribs, tiered collar, 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 ;435 grams, 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.).
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards.