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A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century
The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons
A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century
A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later
FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.
THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.18th/19th century.
A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.
THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.
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Lot 9

A Rare Islamic Incendiary Grenade
Medieval, Probably 13th-15th Century

Antique Arms and Armour
27 November 2013, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

£200 - £300

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A Rare Islamic Incendiary Grenade
Medieval, Probably 13th-15th Century

Of grey unglazed earthenware, with globular body drawn-out to a point at the base and decorated overall with raised ovals against a ground of pressed concentric ovals, and with moulded top pierced with a hole
15.5 cm. high

Footnotes

Large numbers of similar vessels, both complete and fragmentary, have been found all over Central Asia, including parts of Russia. There was at one time considerable controversy over whether they were containers for mercury or holy water, lamps, or grenades designed to be charged with incendiary material, probably a mixture containing naphtha, the basis of the legendary Greek Fire of the Byzantines. An article published by W. Arendt in 1931 established beyond doubt that they were grenades

See W. Arendt, 'Irdene Granaten des 13.-14, Janrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind', Zeitschrift für Historiche Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 11 (1926-8), pp. 264-5; P. Post 'Handbrandgeschoß oder Öllampe?', ibid, 12 (1929-31), p. 42; W. Arendt, 'Die Sphärisch-Konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton', ibid, pp. 206-10; D. Ayalon, Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London 1956, p. 16

For three other examples formerly in the Howard L. Blackmore Collection see Christie's London, Antique Arms and Armour, 12 July 2000, lot 331

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Bid now on these items

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century
The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons
A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century
A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later
FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.
THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.18th/19th century.
A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.
THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.