Western Asiatic Gold and Garnet Pendant

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 copper-alloy bracelet composed of a round-section hoop and horned animal head terminals. 40 grams, 69 mm



with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s.

A ceramic tablet fragment bearing dense cuneiform text to one face; held in a membranous frame, a divinatory treaty with observations on different configurations of the liver of a sheep (?) and their apodosis, that is to say the prediction for each case: the theme of 'the peril of the enemy army' is recurrent. 32 grams total, 70 x 70 mm including case



Ex 1970s collection. Property of a North London gentleman.