Lead Pyramidal Weight with Characters

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.

A rock crystal cylinder seal with incuse design divided horizontally by a line of crescents; an advancing figure with smaller figures at his feet, a large tree, animals and other objects in the field. 16.8 grams, 43 mm



From an important family collection. 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.

A bulbous ceramic vessel with trumpet-style neck and rim, bichrome decorative design incorporating plain circumferential bands of varying width, with concentric roundels to the equator, repaired. 366 grams, 15.2 cm high



Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.