A SMALL BRASS ENGRAVED MAGIC BOWL
Iran, 19th century

Of rounded shape, resting on a short circular foot, with a flat rim, the central boss flattened in the centre and engraved with two fishes, the sign of the Pisces, and auspicious inscriptions, around the base eleven roundels engraved with the remaining Zodiac sign symbols, the cavetto with petal-like cartouches filled with calligraphic divinatory and auspicious formulae, the exterior with calligraphic roundels and pseudo-inscriptions, the base dated 1282 AH (1866), 15.4cm diam.