An extremely rare early grenade, made of ceramic material. There are documented accounts of these grenades being used in battles and sieges most notably during the crusades at the Seige of Cairo in the 12th century. Accounts suggest that these 'pots' were filled with a mixture of petroleum and an early form of gunpowder. The blown off top is typically seen on these grenades due to the volatility of the mixture within. This example is unusually large and well preserved. Grey-green ceramic with moulded decoration, facetted base, stamped cartouches containing short Islamic inscription.

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 .5 inches high, 14 inches diameter. Syria, Near east 11th/12th century.

$1500