Ca. 800-1000 AD. A decorated globular vessel with a short neck, flaring shoulder, and a pointed base. Vessels such as this example are frequently interpreted as an early type of hand grenade. It is believed that these jars could have contained an incendiary agent such as the infamous "Greek fire" which was impervious to water, making them invaluable weapons in naval battles. Unfortunately, the recipe for "Greek fire was lost with the fall of the Byzantine empire, but it was likely a petroleum-based mixture.Size: L:70mm / W:95mm ; 270gProvenance: Private UK collection; From an old British collection formed in the 1990s.