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LOT 1077
Aramaic Terracotta Magic Bowl with Cursive Script
4TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
3 3/4 - 4 7/8 in. (277 grams total, 9.5-12.4 cm).
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. [2]
ProvenanceAcquired 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.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1077
Aramaic Terracotta Magic Bowl with Cursive Script
Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
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Hittite Bronze Statuette of a Stag
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Modelled in the round, the stag standing with legs firmly set, ears and antlers carefully modelled; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 291 grams total, 88 mm including stand
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
In Anatolia, cult objects in the form of a deer found in the Royal Cemetery of Alaca Höyük, dating to the 3rd millennium B.C., suggest worship of this animal. This continued during the Hittite period where bronze statuettes of this type were widespread. The cult was widespread in the Mediterranean-Aegean world. Even on the remote island of Sardinia, similar cultic and votive statuettes were made. -
Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal of Ili-iddinam, Servant of the Goddess Nin-si'anna
Circa 1900-1600 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
With three standing figures; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Black Stone with White Streaks / 31 x 17 mm. / The design consists of three standing figures: a god in short clothes on the right, a worshipper in long robe raising one hand in the middle, and a nude female shown frontally on the left. A spade symbol appears in front of the god on the right. A two line cuneiform inscription names the ancient seal-owner: Ili-iddinam, servant of (the goddess) Nin-si'anna / Nin-si'anna is a name of Ishter-Venus. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600 B.C. It has a rare stone for the period, but is not deeply cut. The seal is in very good state of preservation.' 17 grams, 31 mm
Academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s. 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. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by the late W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. -
Mesopotamian Hardstone Cylinder Seal
Circa 2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
The singe frieze consisting of two standing figures with column-like skirts, rounded torsos and heads, arms and feet simply etched; the figures separated by three round dimples interspersed with star-motifs; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 4.4 grams, 26 mm
From the property of late Mr SM, London, UK, 1969-1999. Accompanied by an old collection ticket.
