Sabbath oil lamp / Memorial oil lamp for woman ("kandil"). Morocco, [probably Marrakesh or Meknès], [early 20th century].
Sheet brass, cut and engraved.
Scalloped back plate. Dedicatory Hebrew inscription (using customary abbreviation): "To the eternal rest of the woman, the late Mira, may her soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life." Suspension ring.
Height: 14.5 cm. Width: 21.5 cm. Good condition. No drip pan.
Reference: Jewish Life in Morocco, p. 45.
In Morocco, it was customary to light Shabbat and holiday candles at home using a ritual lamp known as a "kandil." After a woman's death, on the first anniversary of her passing, the lamps would be donated to the synagogue with an engraved dedication bearing the woman's name. Maintenance of the candles and wicks was the responsibility of the family.
