ARAMAIC TERRACOTTA INCANTATION DEVIL TRAP BOWL

Ca. AD 600 - 800 A Judeo-Aramaic terracotta bowl featuring a gently pointed base and uniformly thick walls that widen outward to an unpronounced rim. The interior of the bowl is adorned with a fine black inscription spiralling around a pale background. These types of bowls, known as "incantation bowls" or "demon bowls,", were traditionally buried face-down under houses to ward off demons and protect the dwelling. They are also referred to as "devil trap bowls" and appear to have been widely utilised for this purpose.
Size: 155mm x 72mm; Weight: 290g
Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in the early 2000s in France; previously in 1970s European collection.

300
Estimate: GBP 450 - 900