A good-sized grey 'Greek Fire' ceramic piriform vessel with a thickened rim enclosing a narrow circular mouth and decoration of a high relief pattern of pear-shaped shields over an underlying pattern of impressed tongues and rays. Supplied with a metal display stand and copy of a two-page 2019 article about firebombs by Dr. Raffaele D'Amato.
 
Byzantine: Circa 12th-14th century AD.
 
Fine condition; part of the top lip missing; a few minor bumps and scrapes.
Height of the vessel 15.1 cms (6 ins).
Weight 1010 grams.
 
Provenance: From a collection of a North London gentleman, latterly with a London gallery.
 
Literature: W. Arendt Irene Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p. 42 W. Arendt Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid. D. Ayalon Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p. 16. For an example of the type see Lot 331 Christie's Sale 8829 Arms and armour 12 July 2000.
 
Contemporary accounts indicate that like an early form of Molotov cocktail, such vessels were filled with flammable material such as naphtha a wick was inserted into the aperture and lit, and the whole vessel hurled at the enemy. They were mainly used in naval engagements and would have been devastating against wooden ships.
 
There was at one time considerable controversy over the purpose of these items, however an article published by W. Arendt in 1931 established beyond doubt that they are grenades.