On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Dish

18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Jingdezhen (made)

The decoration of the 'magic' bowl consist of a 'magic' number square and insceriptions from the Quran in Arabic. The style of the calligraphy shows that the decoration was done in China, and the piece was made as a 'magic' bowl for export.

Object details

Category
Ceramics
Object type
Dish
Materials and techniques
Porcelain with enamel decoration in red and gold
Porcelain
Brief description
Cer, China, Qing, polychrome
Physical description
The decoration of the 'magic' bowl consist of a 'magic' number square and insceriptions from the Quran in Arabic. The style of the calligraphy shows that the decoration was done in China, and the piece was made as a 'magic' bowl for export.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 20.3cm
  • Height: 0.0cm
Gallery label
(2016-2018)
2016-2018 Display: Amulets, Talismans and Fortune Telling in the Middle East

Magic Bowls:
Magic bowls were thought to have therapeutic powers, although their exact function depended on their inscriptions and talismanic designs. These decorations might include quotations from the Qur'an, prayers or number patterns known as 'magic squares'.

The power of a magic bowl came into effect when someone drank from it. The supposed benefits ranged from curing illnesses and easy childbirth to counteracting sorcery and granting physical strength. Today, water is still drunk from magic bowls, but only those with Qur'anic inscriptions.

5. Magic bowl
China
About 1800
Porcelain with enamelled decoration and gilding
Museum no. 1944-1855

6. Magic bowl
Iran
About 1800
Engraved bronze
On loan to the V&A

7. Contemporary magic bowl
Iran
About 2000
Engraved steel
On loan to the V&A
Object history
Purchased from the Bernal Collection, accessioned in 1855. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Purchase from the BERNAL collection.
Production
Chinese
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
1944-1855

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Record createdMarch 7, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O33643/dish-unknown/
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