Title
Divination bowl
Year/Period
17th century
Region
Iran
Material
Dimension
Object size: H: 4.5,
x D: 16.2
x D: 16.2
Accession No.
1996-00181
Collection of
The interior and exterior of this bowl have been densely engraved with various Qur’anic verses and pious formulae. Such bowls were used for healing purposes. The water in these bowls was believed to have curative powers and was given to the sick. Drinking water that had touched Qur’anic verses was a healing practice common in the Islamic world. This cure is also found in manuals on Prophetic medicine. Bowls like this, with a central boss, became the most common form of magic bowl in Iran from the 15th century onwards.
