Luristan Bronze Pin with King Holding Animals

With saddle-stitched binding, manuscript blocks of Arabic-script black-ink text, small heading text; several blank pages; probably from India. 38 grams, 15 x 10.5 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

With incised frieze of a seated figure extending his hand to a standing figure in floor-length pleated garment, second figure behind him in a fringed robe and a third holding a sceptre in a fringed robe. 6.27 grams, 20 mm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector; collection no.026. 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.