THREE RARE ISLAMIC INCENDIARY DEVICES
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THREE RARE ISLAMIC INCENDIARY DEVICES

MEDIEVAL, PROBABLY 13TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.

Details
THREE RARE ISLAMIC INCENDIARY DEVICES
Medieval, probably 13th-15th Century A.D.
Each of unglazed earthenware, hollow and strawberry shaped with a central hole fitted with a short neck (damaged on the first two, missing from the third), all with impressed ornament, on the first comprising elongated lozenge-shaped panels fitted alternately with repeated rosettes and a fine scale pattern, on the second triangular panels filled with a pattern of close-set repeated seeds, and on the third an overall design of close-set seeds, incorporating a mark framed in a circle
3½in. (8.9cm.) to 5in. (12.7cm.) high (3)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Large numbers of these 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 are grenades

See W. Arendt, 'Irdene Granaten des 13.-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind', Zeitschrift für Historische 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 Gefässe aus Gebranntem Ton', Ibid., pp. 206-10; D. Ayalon, Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p. 16

Cf. three similar examples sold from the collection of Howard L. Blackmore in these Rooms, 12 July 2000, lot 331 (£1,100 plus premium)

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