Western Asiatic Bronze Ibex Statuette

With conical body, the inner face bearing concentric rings of inked magical Aramaic text, repaired. 357 grams, 19 cm wide



Ex Family collection, London, UK, pre 1988.

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

Including beads of tubular, biconical, disc, annular and other types of varying sizes. 72.7 grams total, 3-41 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

With hollow-formed bulbous body, three radiating nozzles each with a leaf-shaped lip, central filler-hole with hinge for a lid (absent), ellipsoid rod handle to the rear with bird-shaped thumb-pad; band of low-relief pseudo-text to the discus. 257 grams, 12.6 cm



Ex old English collection. London art market, pre 2000. Property of a London, UK, gentleman.