Auction No. 100
Rare and special items
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Miniature Torah Scroll. Magnificent rollers (atzei chaim) and original mantle. 19th century.
Description: Miniature Torah Scroll. Ink on parchment. Parchment width: 130 mm. The kashrut status has not been checked.
Atzei Chaim: Silver, apparently without marks, 14 karat gold, old polished diamonds and emeralds. Length: 285 mm. The handles of the roller are smooth. Their upper section bears the [Hebrew] engraving: "Etz Chaim Hi" and "La'Machazikim Bah." At the center there is a vase with a border of petals from which grows a gorgeous plant made of gold. Each plant has two groups of three large leaves and three large flowers, each set alternately with a diamond or an emerald. The upper section of the plant has two smaller flowers and a larger, different flower, made of two layers of leaves, which are also set with stones.
Mantle: Cloth, silk? Apparently original. 40 mm. wide. 170 mm. long. Inner cloth lining. Nice embroidered flowers and leaves inside and out, matching the gold flowers at the top of the rollers.
Condition: Overall fine condition. The rollers are in very fine condition. Light blemishes to the mantle.
Magnificent breastplate for a Torah Scroll. Hallmarked silver. Vienna, 1867-1872.
Description: Length: 36 cm. Width: 32 cm. Hallmarks indicating maker and location.
Hammerwork, boring and repousse. Most sections of the breastplate are gold plated. At the center are the Luchot HaBrit supported by impressive lions at the right and left. The upper section features a large, impressive crown. Delicate engraving: יצחק ב' מנחם, on the cartouche in the bottom section. The breastplate is surrounded by decorative leaves and flowers. Craftsman's work.
Condition: Very fine. The gold plating has been rubbed off in a number of places.
Chanuka menorah, silver with hallmarks. Berlin, 1804-1815
Description: Nice backplate menorah. Repousse and chasing. Two marks. Blurred maker's mark.
Maximal height: 13.5 cm. Width: 12.5 cm. Thickness: 70 cm.
The front is engraved with rococo scrolls and shellwork. The body of the menorah is shaped like a rectangular box that is divided into eight compartments. Each compartment has a small, protruding tongue holding a small cylinder to support the wick. The compartments are covered by a hinged lid with floral engraving. The right side of the backplate bears a tall shamash, apparently not original. The Menorah stands on four triangular legs, decorated with leaves.
Background: This type of Menorah was designed according to the popular Frankfurt Menorahs of the 18th century. The different designs were created in workshops in Hanau, Franken and Schwaben, but their decorations and metalwork are more primitive than the ones created by the Frankfurt silversmiths.
Refer to the catalogue of the Jewish Museum London, item 239, for a similar item.
Condition: Very fine.
Impressive finials for a Torah Scroll. Silver, Afghanistan, 19th century.
Description: Height 275 mm. Diameter 70 mm.
Pear shaped finials, decorated with repousse flowers and vegetation. Each finial has a hinge and clasp so that it can be opened and filled with fragrant leaves to glorify the mitzvah. The upper section bears chains with pendants that hang from a serrated dome. Similar chains with pendants hang from the center of the finial and the bottom of the pear. Altogether there are three rows of delicate chains creating a very impressive look for the finials.
Condition: Missing a number of chains. Light dents.
Finials. Silver, Morocco, 19th century.
Description: 280 mm. tall. 56 mm. diameter. Sections are gold plated.
Each finial is shaped like a hexagonal tower with Islamic styled windows covered with a colorful cloth. Topped by a crest surrounded by six silver strips shaped like leaves. Bells hang from the corners of the tower. Repousse work of flowers and leaves across the entire surface of the tower and base.
Background: Similar bells can be seen in the Stieglitz Collection: Masterpieces of Jewish Art, published by the Israel Museum, p. 46.
Condition: Very fine. Light dents.
Eternal lamp for a synagogue. Hallmarked silver. Italy, c. 1740.
Description: Body of the lamp: 28 cm. Width: 17 cm. With chains and dome: Height: 64 cm.
Silver eternal lamp for hanging, with decorative flowers and leaves. Nice floral border on the bottom of the lamp. Three rings protrude from the thicker section at center. They are attached to designed silver chains that hold the eternal flame and attach to one decorative dome.
Unique features: Engraving on the three sides at center of the lamp: חברה קדושה, של גמילות חסדים, שנת הת"ק [Chevra kedosha, shel gemilut chassadim, 1740].
Condition: Fine. Light blemishes to the flower on bottom of the lamp. The chains and dome are not original.
Synagogue hall in a glass bottle. Spectacular, folksy work by Mrs. Helena Hoffman, in memory of her husband. Rakasdia, 1888.
Unique features: This spectacular exhibit was handmade with intricate, delicate work and includes the smallest details - in the images of Moses and Aaron as well as the synagogue hall. Most of the details were made outside of the bottle and then inserted and positioned correctly through a rounded opening with a diameter of about 60 mm. This work demands both expertise and a light hand. When the work was finished, the opening was closed with a glass bottleneck and wood cork that cannot be opened. This work was made by Helene Hoffman in memory of her husband and apparently donated to the synagogue.
Specifications: [1] glass bottle with wood cork that cannot be opened. 14.5 cm. long, 10 cm. wide, Height until the neck - 25 cm., height including the cork 36 cm.
At center is a four-columned bimah with a Torah Scroll, candelabra and candles on the bimah. Moses stands at the right holding the Luchot HaBrit in his left hand and his staff in his right. Aaron the High Priest stands to the left of the bimah, lifting his hands in the priestly blessing. A Holy Ark is in the back with a red parochet bearing the text סעפער תארא [Torah Scroll].
The upper front section has a decorated arch with the Yiddish text: מיט אנד אלט אים טמפל, and parallel, in the back near the Holy Ark, is the text גאטט זיי מיט אונת.
A large star of David with the year 5648 at its center is on a red background on the back of the bottle. A handwritten German dedication is on the bottom: "Dise(!) Kunstflasche/ ist verfertigt am/ 1sten Juni 1888 zur/ Erinnerung des/ l. M. Hoffman/ t. Gattin Helene/ Rakasdia." [This artistic bottle was created on the 1st of June, 1888, in memory of M. Hoffman, his wife Helene, Rakasdia.]
There is a note with a few words that have not been deciphered on the inside of the bottom of the bottle.
Condition: Other than aging stains and some dirt in the interior of the bottle, everything is in very fine condition.
Spice tower. Silver, filigree. Poland, Zhitomir. First half of the 19th century.
Description: Nice silver spice tower, apparently without marks, delicate filigree work. The body of the tower consists of eight ribs, one of which serves as a door that moves up and down in a track. The tower concludes at the top in a cone shape with a knop at its top. A flag stands at the top of the knop, apparently not original.
Height: 210 mm. Width: 56 mm.
Condition: fine. The upper section of the door is broken.
Four spice towers. Silver, filigree. Eastern Europe, 18th-19th century.
* Lemberg, 18th century. Height: 180 mm.
* Poland? 19th century. Height: 140 mm.
* Poland/Vienna. End of the 19th century. Height: 200 mm.
* Zhitomir. 19th century. Height: 160 mm.
Condition: Overall fine condition.
Spice tower. Silver hallmarked 925. Made by "Bezalel Jerusalem." 1920s.
Description: Height: 120 mm. Diameter: 50 mm.
Egg-shaped, stands on a domed base, all with delicate, impressive filigree work. The tower opens at center, like two halves of a ball. Another copper half-ball rests on its bottom section to hold the spices. The upper section features a flag with filigree text: "ציון." The flag is apparently not original. On its base there is a characteristic "בצלאל" inscription.
Condition: Very fine.
"Come to Palestine" poster, promoting tourism in the Holy Land under the British Mandate. By Zeev Raban, Bezalel Jerusalem. Schulz Press, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Specifications: 99x63.5 cm. Colored lithograph press. Name and location of printer in the plate and artist's signature: Zeev Raban Bezalel Jerusalem.
Unique Features: The poster was printed by lithograph in 1929 in Prague, since there was no press in Palestine at the time able to print a complete page with this technique. Various elements in the poster - including the medallions, the verse letters and the name of the company - were printed originally in gold.
Background: The poster was designed to address the public at large, Jew and Christian alike. It recommends visiting the Holy Land, which is redolent of Oriental culture and biblical roots, a land of ancient scenery mixed with modern vitality. The poster is full of symbolic motifs and depicts scenery seen through an architectural border of a window. The window is shaped like an Islamic pointed arch. Medallions with illustrations of stars of David and the Dome of the Rock are next to the arch. Underneath the arch, on the sides of the window, there are arabesques and pairs of twisted columns. On top of the window is the text: "Society for the promotion of travel in the Holy Land." An English translation of verses from Song of Songs is underneath the window: "For lo the winter has passed the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on earth and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." The view through the window is Lake Kinneret, Tiberias and its environs, and a snowy Mt. Hermon on the horizon.
The text: "Come to Palestine." is on the bottom of the poster. Zeev Raban (1890-1970) was a painter, graphic artist, industrial designer, and one of the first teachers at Bezalel. He was the director of the repousse workshop and the principal of the school. He is a patriarch of Eretz-Israeli art.
Source: Private collection.
Condition: Fine. Tears and light stains, primarily in the margins. Framed and matted. Not mounted.
Magnificent bowl on pedestal. Silver, marked בצלאל. Made by Bezalel Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, 1927.
Description: Height: 19 cm. Diameter: 17.5 cm.
Deep silver bowl. Along the entire circumference of the exterior of the bowl is delicate filigree work with stars of David that are about 30 mm. thick. The rest of the exterior surface is made of delicate, precise hammerwork by an artisan. Smooth, cylindrical pedestal, its upper and bottom section are domed and decorated with hearts and a knop at center, also decorated with hearts. All with nice, delicate filigree work. The base of the bowl is also domed with matching stars of David.
Unique features: Impressive artisan-made silver bowl. Its base bears a delicately engraved dedication in Hebrew, English and Arabic: "To H. E.[?] Lees Esq. Director of Public Works, Palestine, from his staff."
It was commissioned and given to Mr. H. E. Lees as a parting gift.
Mr. Lees' report regarding the infrastructure in Palestine appeared in the Jewish Daily Bulletin on 10.04.1947.
Condition: Very fine.