Heavy Sassanian Silver Bowl

With intaglio king in tall headdress gripping the throat of a rearing gryphon. 8.09 grams, 24 mm



Acquired between 1980-1983. From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

Tapering, hexagonal in plan with incuse calligraphic inscription; pierced at the narrow end. 21.1 grams, 35 mm



Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971.

Broad terracotta bowl with extensive inked inscription and symbols to the inner face; repaired and partly disassembled. 382 grams total, 9-17 cm



From an important family collection, London and Geneva.

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.