Amlash Bronze Openwork Pendant Group

Black stone with a figure wearing a long robe and horned cap, holding a sceptre, other hand raised in greeting to a central male figure seated on a bull; behind a bearded male figure wearing long robes and horned cap and carrying a sceptre; behind a panel with four rows of cuneiform text. 4.24 grams, 14 mm



From an important North London collection formed in the late 1980s. From a collection acquired from various auction houses in the UK. From the estate of Mr R.W., a private Wiltshire, UK, collector; thence by descent.

Comprising a large quantity of beads in various shapes and sizes in glass, stone, coral and lapis lazuli, including some larger feature beads. 161 grams total, 2-27 mm



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.

An unglazed terracotta trumpet-shaped bowl with the faint remains of Aramaic-script to the inside; accompanied by a smaller bowl with three concentric rings of recently overpainted pseudo Aramaic-script to the upper face. 277 grams total, 9.5-12.4 cm



Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.

Aramaic incantation bowls are particular to the Sassanian period and have been found in regions of modern Iraq. These simple ceramic bowls, also known as magic bowls, each contain an Aramaic inscription, written in ink, which spirals from the centre. The bowls seem to have played an important part in domestic life. For example, during excavation in Nippur in 1889, one or more incantation bowls were found in each house together with domestic artefacts, most often in doorways or under floorboards in the corner of rooms. The bowls are predominantly apotropaic, and the inscriptions tend to protect their owners from misfortunes such as those faced in child-birth, illness and evil spirits.