Auction 34 - The Arnie Druck Collections
The Jerusalem Haggadah – Illustrations by Yael Hershberg – The Original Manuscript and Illustrations – Original Oil Painting by Israel Hershberg
Opening: $180,000
Unsold
The Jerusalem Haggadah. Illustration: Yael Hershberg. Calligraphy: Yitzchak (Izzy) Pludwinski. Original manuscript, 1996.
Passover Haggadah, written by Calligrapher Yitzchak (Izzy) Pludwinski and illustrated by Yael Hershberg. Impressive colorful aquarelles, combined with gold, portraying architectural details from Jerusalem neighborhoods and botanical ornaments.
All illustrations throughout the Haggadah permeate the love of the city of Jerusalem and depict its prominence and centrality throughout history; they integrate the conception of holiness of the City in light of the expression which discerns between “Yerushalayim Shel Mala” [heavenly Jerusalem] and “Yerushalayim Shel Mata” [earthly Jerusalem] (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit, 5A) – on one hand the illustrations portray the material, earthy and mundane and on the other hand the spiritual, exalted and holy. The constant counterbalance between “Yerushalayim Shel Mala” and “Yerushalayim Shel Mata” grant the illustrations of the Haggadah their uniqueness and it was this theme which guided the architects of the Haggadah, which was prepared in honor of the 3000th anniversary of the city of Jerusalem.
The illustrations draw their inspiration from Jerusalem structures and from their arches, doors and windows in particular, which metaphorically symbolize one of the most central themes in the PassoverHaggadah – the holiday of freedom. The arches ornamenting the Haggadah symbolize the gates of the Old City – and raise the question as to whether that is the only way to enter and exit the city. They also symbolize the forty nine gates of holiness and elevation which the Jewish nation attained from the time that they left Egypt until receiving of the Torah; so too the arches and gates portrayed in the Jerusalem Haggadah symbolize the holiness of earthy mundane Jerusalem and its redemption, while metaphorically preserving the heavenly, exalted and eternal Jerusalem.
Throughout the Haggadah the illustrations depict the walls of the Old City, Gate of Mercy on the Eastern Wall of the Old City, gate of main entrance to Beit Tavor of Conrad Schick on HaNevi’im Street, façade of “Eliyahu HaNavi” synagogue in Jewish Quarter in Old City, keystone from “Bikur Cholim” hospital, windows of homes in Bucharim neighborhood as well as doors of homes and arches in neighborhoods of Talabiya, Baka, Nachlaot, Me’ah She’arim and the city center.
One the page, “Next Year in Jerusalem”, appears an original oil painting by Israel Hershberg – view from Keren HaYesod Street, facing the Liberty Bell Park, of the German Colony and Baka neighborhood. Two of the illustrations are impressive Micrographies; first in form of a lion (one of the pair of lions on entrance gate to home of Mashiach Borochoff on Jaffa Street) and second – illustration of David’s Citadel.
Manuscript, which includes abovementioned original illustrations, bound in an elegant binding, crafted by artistic bookbinder Yehuda Miklaf, combining two types of leather; placed within a fine case. [35] leaves, 41. Very good condition.
Attached is a commentary volume, The Jerusalem Haggadah, Gateway to the Haggadah, which is bound in an elegant binding as well and contains photographs by photographer Oded Antman accompanied by explanations for sources of each illustration of the Haggadah, by Prof. Marc Michael Epstein.
Source: Collection of Arnie Druck.
Passover Haggadah, written by Calligrapher Yitzchak (Izzy) Pludwinski and illustrated by Yael Hershberg. Impressive colorful aquarelles, combined with gold, portraying architectural details from Jerusalem neighborhoods and botanical ornaments.
All illustrations throughout the Haggadah permeate the love of the city of Jerusalem and depict its prominence and centrality throughout history; they integrate the conception of holiness of the City in light of the expression which discerns between “Yerushalayim Shel Mala” [heavenly Jerusalem] and “Yerushalayim Shel Mata” [earthly Jerusalem] (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit, 5A) – on one hand the illustrations portray the material, earthy and mundane and on the other hand the spiritual, exalted and holy. The constant counterbalance between “Yerushalayim Shel Mala” and “Yerushalayim Shel Mata” grant the illustrations of the Haggadah their uniqueness and it was this theme which guided the architects of the Haggadah, which was prepared in honor of the 3000th anniversary of the city of Jerusalem.
The illustrations draw their inspiration from Jerusalem structures and from their arches, doors and windows in particular, which metaphorically symbolize one of the most central themes in the PassoverHaggadah – the holiday of freedom. The arches ornamenting the Haggadah symbolize the gates of the Old City – and raise the question as to whether that is the only way to enter and exit the city. They also symbolize the forty nine gates of holiness and elevation which the Jewish nation attained from the time that they left Egypt until receiving of the Torah; so too the arches and gates portrayed in the Jerusalem Haggadah symbolize the holiness of earthy mundane Jerusalem and its redemption, while metaphorically preserving the heavenly, exalted and eternal Jerusalem.
Throughout the Haggadah the illustrations depict the walls of the Old City, Gate of Mercy on the Eastern Wall of the Old City, gate of main entrance to Beit Tavor of Conrad Schick on HaNevi’im Street, façade of “Eliyahu HaNavi” synagogue in Jewish Quarter in Old City, keystone from “Bikur Cholim” hospital, windows of homes in Bucharim neighborhood as well as doors of homes and arches in neighborhoods of Talabiya, Baka, Nachlaot, Me’ah She’arim and the city center.
One the page, “Next Year in Jerusalem”, appears an original oil painting by Israel Hershberg – view from Keren HaYesod Street, facing the Liberty Bell Park, of the German Colony and Baka neighborhood. Two of the illustrations are impressive Micrographies; first in form of a lion (one of the pair of lions on entrance gate to home of Mashiach Borochoff on Jaffa Street) and second – illustration of David’s Citadel.
Manuscript, which includes abovementioned original illustrations, bound in an elegant binding, crafted by artistic bookbinder Yehuda Miklaf, combining two types of leather; placed within a fine case. [35] leaves, 41. Very good condition.
Attached is a commentary volume, The Jerusalem Haggadah, Gateway to the Haggadah, which is bound in an elegant binding as well and contains photographs by photographer Oded Antman accompanied by explanations for sources of each illustration of the Haggadah, by Prof. Marc Michael Epstein.
Source: Collection of Arnie Druck.
Artist's Books. Facsimiles. Bibliophilia
Artist's Books. Facsimiles. Bibliophilia