Ca. 900–1100 AD. Byzantine. A cream-coloured “Greek fire” grenade comprising a domed lid, a pointed base, and an elongated globular body decorated with ribbed vertical decoration and a circular panel of vertical incised motifs. Good condition; custom-made stand included. It is believed that vessels such as this one contained an incendiary agent known as “Greek fire”, which, since it was impervious to water, made these vessels invaluable weapons in naval battles. Unfortunately, the exact composition of the Greek fire is unknown. However, scholars posit that the mixture was composed of pine resin, naphtha, quicklime, and sulphur. To find out more about Greek fire grenades, see Crosby, A. (2002). Throwing fire: Projectile technology through history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Provenance: Private UK collection; From an old London collection formed in the 1990s. Size: L:143mm / W:84mm ; 530g