A FINE DAMASCUS BRASS MAGIC BOWL, of shallow hemispherical form, the interior engraved with a asymmetrical arrangement of finely worked naskh inscriptions with Quranic verses concerning safe childbirth and incantations against colic arranged in lines or concentric circles, magic squares of numerals, interlocking circles of 'magic' script, together with depictions of the animals the bites of which the bowl is meant to cure; the mad dog, the scorpion, the snake and the twin-headed dragon, the reverse with a fine inscription around the rim containing instructions for using the bowl against ailments, snake and dog bites and birth pains, ending 'correct and tried, it was copied in the fortress of Damascus, circa 12th century (minute rim chip)

Details

A FINE DAMASCUS BRASS MAGIC BOWL, of shallow hemispherical form, the interior engraved with a asymmetrical arrangement of finely worked naskh inscriptions with Quranic verses concerning safe childbirth and incantations against colic arranged in lines or concentric circles, magic squares of numerals, interlocking circles of 'magic' script, together with depictions of the animals the bites of which the bowl is meant to cure; the mad dog, the scorpion, the snake and the twin-headed dragon, the reverse with a fine inscription around the rim containing instructions for using the bowl against ailments, snake and dog bites and birth pains, ending 'correct and tried, it was copied in the fortress of Damascus, circa 12th century (minute rim chip)
4 3/8in. (11.1cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

For another very similar bowl, see:
Rehatsek, E.,'Explanation and facsimiles of eight Arabic Talismanic Medicine Cups', in Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol.X (1871-74), pp.150-154

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