Lot 78A
Ancient Near East, Sasanian Period, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A Judeo-Aramaic terracotta bowl of a conical form, with a gently pointed base and walls of even thickness that widen uniformly outward to an unpronounced rim. A fine black inscription spirals around the interior, painted on the pale, buff background. In tondo is a dramatic demon-like figure with four arms, a zoomorphic head, an anthropomorphic body, and a prominent, disturbingly-shaped phallus with an "x" shape below it. A two word inscription is painted on the exterior of the bowl as well. Bowls like this example were traditionally buried face-down under houses to catch demons and thus protect the house; they are also known as "incantation bowls" or "demon bowls." So-called devil trap bowls were apparently widely used; for example, nearly every house excavated in the Jewish-Iraqi settlement of Nippur had one buried somewhere around the premises of the domicile. Size: 6.9" W x 2.8" H (17.5 cm x 7.1 cm)
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private prominent D.K. collection, New York, USA, acquired in 2006 from Lenny Alexander Wolfe, Jerusalem, Israel. Comes with copy of Israeli export permit.
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#153102
- Condition: Intact, with a few small chips and nicks from the rim commensurate with age. Surface is lightly worn with a few deposits.
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