Large Western Asiatic Alabaster Cylinder Seal with Procession

An Indus period shallow dish or bowl with gently rounded and tapering sidewalls, three integral tapering legs formed as stylised elephant heads and trunks with simple facial detailing and splayed feet. 2.9 kg, 35 cm wide



London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N123k2 from Oxford Authentication.

With frieze of standing figures, fronds, vases, scrolls, birds and other items. 2.13 grams, 15 mm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector; collection no.030. London collection, 2016.

Of rounded, conical form and bearing a spiralling pseudo-Aramaic incantation to the bowl interior. 260 grams, 15.5 cm wide



From a collection of pottery formed in the 1970-1980s.

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.