A brass magic bowl, Syria, 18th century

of deep rounded form with a fluted domical boss surmounted by a knop finial, the cavetto engraved with three roundels enclosing magic numbers and diamond calligraphic medallions, flanked by cartouches filled with monumental inscriptions, all against a calligraphic ground, the narrow slightly everted rim with further magic numbers, the exterior with an arcade of alternating lobed cartouches of magic numbers and inscriptions, monumental calligraphy to exterior rim