Jewish Silver Rimonim Group

A ceramic tablet fragment bearing cuneiform text to one face, an inventory of fields with their surface measurements, dating to the Third Dynasty of Ur. 22 grams, 45 mm



Acquired in the 1980s. From the collection of a West London, UK, gentleman.

A ceramic flat-based bowl, inscribed in spiral from the bottom inner wall to the rim with Aramaic text, and on the outer rim. 692 grams, 19.5 cm wide



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK

Aramaic incantation bowls are particular to the Sassanian period and have been found in the 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 child-birth, illness and evil spirits.

An early Bronze Age terracotta jar with flat base and rounded upper body, two ledge handles to the equator, broad neck with band of impressed dots beneath the rim. 378 grams, 14 cm high



Acquired 1970s. From an important deceased family collection by descent.