Ancient Gold Bead Collection

With conical body, the inner face bearing concentric rings of inked magical Aramaic text, repaired. 357 grams, 19 cm wide



Ex Family collection, London, UK, pre 1988.

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.

With drilled design of two leaping goats, pierced for suspension; accompanied by a museum quality impression. 21.7 grams, 34 mm



From a Cotswold, UK, collection, item no.201; as seen and catalogued by the late Professor Wilfrid George Lambert pre 1990.

W.G. Lambert is the late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.

With frieze depicting a seated figure holding up a vessel in one extended hand, star and crescent above; before him, a facing figure in fringed robe and another in flounced robe with hands raised; two columns of cuneiform text; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 2.23 grams, 17 mm



From an important London, UK, collection, 1970-1990. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.