AN ENGRAVED TINNED COPPER 'MAGIC' BOWL
Qajar Iran, mid to late 19th century

Of hemispherical shape, resting on a flattened circular base with a concave centre, the interior with a rounded boss in the middle, curved cavetto, and an everted, flattened rim, the engraved decoration on both the interior and exterior of the bowl laid out in concentric epigraphic bands with roundels and cartouches in the shape of lobed arches filled with geomantic inscriptions, auspicious prayers, and talismanic numerical series, most of the calligraphy written in plain naskh script with the exception of a few areas of crude nasta'liq script, the reverse of the central boss and flattened base presenting later-added ownership inscriptions, 18.5cm diam.