Ca. 6th–7th century Persian (modern-day Iran or Iraq) spun clay bowl, the interior painted in circular lines of script, with a ghoulish form at bottom interior. The text, likely intended as a form of incantation against evil spirits, is written in a pseudo-script based on the Jewish script. At least 3 repaired cracks, some wear, pitting and rubbing; overall in good to fair condition. 3.5 inches tall x 6.5 round. 

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr James Nathan Ford, of Bar Ilan University, for assistance in the cataloging of this item based on photographs.

"Demon bowls," dating from the 6th to 9th centuries A. D. and found in several archeological sites in Iraq and Iran, were bowls inscribed with protective incantations and apparently positioned face-down in the home to "trap" evil spirits. They may also have been used to send evil spirits towards one's enemy. Most of the extant bowls bear inscriptions written in a spiral, some with texts on the outside as well as inside. While most of these texts are in Jewish-Aramaic, Syriac, or Mandaic, some bowls bear texts in a pseudo-script, suggesting either that the creator was illiterate, or that the texts played only a small role in the bowls' use.