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Lot 151

Two engraved Magic Bowls or Poison Cups
Egypt or Syria, 13th - 15th Century
(2)

23 April 2013, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £937.50 inc. premium

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Two engraved Magic Bowls or Poison Cups
Egypt or Syria, 13th - 15th Century

of shallow rounded form; the smaller bronze bowl engraved with inscriptions to interior arranged in concentric circles, star and diamond forms within medallions containing numerals around a central flowerhead, exterior rim with narrow band of inscriptions, further engraved with figures of scorpion, snake and two quadrupeds encircling central medallion with numerals in rows; the larger tinned-copper bowl, engraved to the interior with inscriptions within six compartments, the exterior with engraved scorpion and intersecting circles containing numerals
the larger 19.9 cm. diam.(2)

Footnotes

Inscriptions: the interior of the smaller bowl has prayers including Qur'an, chapters LXXXIV (al-inshiqaq), verses 1-part of 4; XCIV (al-inshirah) part of verse 4-7 and LXXI (Nuh), part of verse 18; as well as magic inscriptions and numbers. The exterior band bears a list of ailments that using the magic bowl would cure and magic inscriptions; The larger bowl has prayers including Qur'an, chapters XXXV (fatir), verse 41; LXXXIV (al-inshiqaq) verses 1-4; XX (taha) verses 25-26; XCIX (al-zilzal), verses 1-part of 8 (damaged); XXV (al-furqan), verse 45.

For further reading see Francis Maddison and Emilie Savage-Smith, Science, Tools & Magic, London, 1997. Also see Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 4th October 2011, lot 137, for another Mamluk example.

Additional information