Western Asiatic Bronze Ram-Shaped Kohl Vessel

Sculptured female head, angular nose with straight ridge, slightly rounded cheeks and triangular chin, large sockets for inlaid eyes, grooved eyebrows and high ears, long locks of hair visible below the ears; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.96 kg total, 18.5 cm including stand



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.

In the Arabian funerary sculptures of the period, the tops of the heads are usually cut off flat just above the hair line and left roughly tooled. The cut was due to the necessity of fitting them into niches of 'house shrines'. Large stelae with niches containing such heads were found in the Timna Cemetery.

Of conical profile with flat base and crimped band to the rim; fourteen lines of writing to the inner face in a practised scribal hand; to the centre a free-hand linear motif; extensive Aramaic text for ' Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi' with four separate biblical quotations (Numbers 9:23; Zachariah 3:2; Psalms 55:8; Psalms 91:7-8); textual translation by Shaul Shaked, 1933-2021, Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies, Religious Studies, Aramaic and Magic in Late Antiquity (The Hebrew University, Jerusalem) comprising: 'which I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, and I drive out the great ...... and tigers are placed upright on my head, and malicious pebble-stones are placed on my chest, and at their knees are sealed heaven and earth, fire, water, moon, stars, zodiac signs, sparks, air, demons, dēvs, accidents, no-good-ones, satans, danahiš, male idols and female goddesses. Again. I seal and double-seal, I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, by these three magic words with which they speak and listen, for the great hammer of splendour and the great axe of the beginning and the scourge of 360 pure pebble-spirits. Amen, Amen, Selah. “At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed” (Numbers 9:23). “And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan, even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zachariah 3:2). Again. I seal and double-seal, I, Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi, by my ten fingers, by the twenty small (fingers) of my hand, by the muscles of my hand, by the chain and the coat of mail, and by the signet-ring of King Solomon son of David, from Ashmedai and from his whole division, from Ṭisi Ipidan and from all their chariot, from Aninhada and from all ..., from Agrat bat MaÎlat and from all their chariots, from DanaÎiš and from all his family, from Zakkaya and the pebble-spirits and from all his family, from the troops of the demon DanaÎiš, the one who goes in through the shoe-laces of people, sits in the heart and crushes the wound ... so that .... not, ... and he sits and officiates ... her stature. By the name of ... by the name of Îyyš yh hh, By the name of Yahu Yahu, by the name of Sabaot Sabaot, by the name of El Shaddai ... demons, plagues, satans, Danahiš and his troops ... and afflictions and no-good-ones and male idols and female goddesses and ... evil ones, that you may not come near Dukhtanšah daughter of Gušnoi. Not you, Ashmedai, and not the whole of ... and not you, Ipidan, and not all your chariot; ... not you, Agrat bat MaÎlat, and not all your chariot, not you, DanaÎiš, and not the whole of your camp; not you, Zakkaya and pebble-spirit, and not the whole of your camp; ... from this day and for ever. Amen, Amen, Selah. ... “Lo, I would wander far off and would remain in the wilderness, Selah” (Psalms 55:8). “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but you it shall not touch” (Psalms 91:7). Firm and well-established.' 1.36 kg, 27 cm wide



Previously from a family collection before 1988. From a gentleman's private collection, housed in London, UK, 1990-2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12981-246347.

A very important piece shedding much light on the history of biblical texts.

Carved bag-shaped body with two lateral unpierced lug handles at the shoulder, flared rim to the mouth. 984 grams, 12.5 cm



Ex William Ohly, 1883-1955. Ex Abbey Museum, Barnet, by descent.