Large, Karaite mezuzah cover. Copper, shaped like a relief of an open book, for use in a synagogue. Egypt, 19th-20th century.
Description: Copper mezuzah cover. 5x29x36 cm. Shaped like an open book, with an Etz-Chaim-like pole at center. Both leaves of the books have decorative frames with the [Hebrew] text: Keter Torah, and word pairs noting the Ten Commandments: “An-chi Hash-m,” “Lo Yehiyeh”…
The Karaite mezuzah consists of a leaf (generally parchment), usually with a border, which bears the words of the Ten Commandments. The Written Torah doesn’t clearly delineate the verses to be written in the mezuzah (and doesn’t note that it should be written on parchment), it only writes in general that “these words” should be “on the doorposts of your homes and gates.”
Condition: Moderate-fine condition, the border at the perimeter of the relief, which bears the tips of the book, disintegrated on the right and is partially broken on the other sides.