Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

A large Mesopotamian pottery incantation bowl image 1
A large Mesopotamian pottery incantation bowl image 2
Various Properties
Lot 130

A large Mesopotamian pottery incantation bowl

1 December 2020, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £10,200 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Antiquities specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

A large Mesopotamian pottery incantation bowl
Circa 7th Century A.D.
The interior of the hemispherical bowl inscribed in black ink with seventeen spiral lines of incantation, the centre depicting a figure, possibly of the demon Lilith, with a scorpion to her left and encircled by two snakes, the text invoking a demon and an angel to help a couple, Bar-Imma, son of Sukhtoy and Parkoy, daughter of Abanduk be rid of demons (including Lilith) who have been appearing to them in their dreams, 29.5cm diam., 13.5cm high

Footnotes

Provenance:
European art market.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 12 July 2000, lot 734.
Private collection, US.
New York art market.
European art market.

Incantation bowls such as this were intended to protect households, but the above lot was, unusually, designed specifically to help restore the love, relationship and health of the named couple. It is a rare and interesting survival. Amongst others, the assistance of the Jewish angel, Nuriel, is petitioned in the inscription. According to an ancient Kabbalistic source Nuriel was associated with love and his name was therefore inscribed on amulets to bring lovers together. Pregnant women also wore amulets inscribed with Nuriel's name for protection. This bowl would have been buried and inverted so as to capture the evil spirit beneath.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A Mesopotamian clay cuneiform foundation cone with dedication inscription of King Lipit-Ishtar of Isin

A small Mesopotamian clay cuneiform foundation cone inscribed for King Sin-Kashid of Uruk

A Neo-Assyrian or Neo-Hittite bronze helmet with pelta-shaped cheek-pieces

An Attic pottery tankard with geometric decoration

A Greek pottery alabastron in the form of a greaved leg

A Greek terracotta female figure with a bird perched on her shoulder