
Francesca Hickin
Head of Department
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Sold for £10,200 inc. premium
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Head of Department

Associate Specialist
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.