Luristan Zoomorphic Bracelet

A group of two similar crescentic gold earrings with slender hook-and-eye hoop, bifacial ornament with gold bulbs to the lower perimeter of both faces and top edges, adorned with pyramid and flower head granules to front face, granule clusters to the inner edge to front face, plain, beaded and striptwist filigree wire crescents to the body, with alternating granulates triangles and rectangles below, repeated on the reverse. 9.61 grams total, 32 mm wide each



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

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 haematite shekel standard weight in frog form; chipped. 8.4 grams, 21 mm



Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.