Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $15,000
Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000
Unsold
Crown for a small Torah scroll. [Eastern Europe – Russia or Poland, 18th century].
Silver (marked), cut and soldered, repoussé and embossed; rivets; gemstones; gilding.
A small-sized crown intended for a small Torah scroll. The crown's base is made of silver openwork attached with rivets to a silver loop and decorated with vegetal and geometric patterns and three pairs of heraldic animals [a pair of lions, langued, a pair of oxen (?) and a pair of wolves (?)]. Six arms extend upwards from the crown's base, topped by another, small and gilt crown decorated with tiny flowers, precious stones, globular silver beads of various sizes and silver threads. The crown's arms are decorated with vegetal patterns and rocaille. Between the arms are six (identical) decorations that combine rocaille and large birds (each of the decorations has two holes, apparently intended for bells or other missing decorations).
Height: 19 cm, base diameter: 13 cm. Good overall condition. Slightly bent. Some of the bells are marked with English stamps. Missing bells. Decorations missing from upper crown and from the rocaille-and-bird pattern.
Silver (marked), cut and soldered, repoussé and embossed; rivets; gemstones; gilding.
A small-sized crown intended for a small Torah scroll. The crown's base is made of silver openwork attached with rivets to a silver loop and decorated with vegetal and geometric patterns and three pairs of heraldic animals [a pair of lions, langued, a pair of oxen (?) and a pair of wolves (?)]. Six arms extend upwards from the crown's base, topped by another, small and gilt crown decorated with tiny flowers, precious stones, globular silver beads of various sizes and silver threads. The crown's arms are decorated with vegetal patterns and rocaille. Between the arms are six (identical) decorations that combine rocaille and large birds (each of the decorations has two holes, apparently intended for bells or other missing decorations).
Height: 19 cm, base diameter: 13 cm. Good overall condition. Slightly bent. Some of the bells are marked with English stamps. Missing bells. Decorations missing from upper crown and from the rocaille-and-bird pattern.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $1,875
Including buyer's premium
A pair of Torah finials ("Apples") with horseshoe-arched windows. Morocco (Probably Fez or Meknes), [late 19th century].
Cast silver, cut, sawn and engraved; chiseled; remnants of velvet; sheet copper.
The body of the Torah finials is cylindrical, widening towards the leg, with decorations on most of the surface in vegetal arabesque patterns and six sawn rectangles, in the center of each one is a small horseshoe-arched window. Seen behind the sawn rectangles are remnants of colorful velvet and a strip of reddish sheet copper, attached to the inside of the finial. On top of each finial is a pointed decoration and rings made of bent silver strips. The legs also widen towards the base and are decorated with plain stripes and with arabesques in a vegetal pattern.
Height: 32 cm. Many soldering repairs to one finial. Defects and bends. Velvet is very worn. Lacking chains and ornaments. Lacking rings.
Cast silver, cut, sawn and engraved; chiseled; remnants of velvet; sheet copper.
The body of the Torah finials is cylindrical, widening towards the leg, with decorations on most of the surface in vegetal arabesque patterns and six sawn rectangles, in the center of each one is a small horseshoe-arched window. Seen behind the sawn rectangles are remnants of colorful velvet and a strip of reddish sheet copper, attached to the inside of the finial. On top of each finial is a pointed decoration and rings made of bent silver strips. The legs also widen towards the base and are decorated with plain stripes and with arabesques in a vegetal pattern.
Height: 32 cm. Many soldering repairs to one finial. Defects and bends. Velvet is very worn. Lacking chains and ornaments. Lacking rings.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $14,000
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Unsold
A pair of Torah finials. [Holland or Germany, second half of 19th century?].
Silver (not marked), repouseé, spun and screwed, traced of gilding.
Two-tier "tower finials", each tier with four arches on columns. The base of the first tier is surrounded by a low fence-like border designed as Fleur-de-lis; the roofs of both tiers are surrounded by a cornice in an identical design. The openings of the first tier arches are ornamented with acanthus leaves. The first tier is topped by a roof designed with overlapping repouseé tiles, and above the second tier, the finials are surmounted by a gadrooned onion dome and topped with a silver ball. A bell is hanging in each of the arches.
Height: approx. 41 cm. Good-fair condition. Bends. Fractures. Soldering repairs. Corrosion. Stains. Lacking bell. One loose stave.
Silver (not marked), repouseé, spun and screwed, traced of gilding.
Two-tier "tower finials", each tier with four arches on columns. The base of the first tier is surrounded by a low fence-like border designed as Fleur-de-lis; the roofs of both tiers are surrounded by a cornice in an identical design. The openings of the first tier arches are ornamented with acanthus leaves. The first tier is topped by a roof designed with overlapping repouseé tiles, and above the second tier, the finials are surmounted by a gadrooned onion dome and topped with a silver ball. A bell is hanging in each of the arches.
Height: approx. 41 cm. Good-fair condition. Bends. Fractures. Soldering repairs. Corrosion. Stains. Lacking bell. One loose stave.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $25,000
Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000
Sold for: $42,500
Including buyer's premium
Hanukkah lamp. Russia or Ukraine, [first half of the 19th century].
Silver (marked, "12" and "BD" in Cyrillic letters), cast, repoussé and engraved; parcel-gilt.
Heavy Hanukkah lamp in an impressive architectonic design.
The back plate is covered in decorations in vegetal patterns. In its center is a small shield held by a pair of griffons – winged eagle-lions. Engraved on the shield is the Hebrew inscription "Blessed art Thou, Lord, to kindle the Chanukah light, Amen", surmounted by an eagle. On the plate's edges, left and right, appear graceful decorations in vegetal patterns, with flowers and grape clusters.
Positioned on a balcony before the back plate are four Corinthian columns. In front of them, on both sides, are a pair of oil containers (with lids), and on the edge is the Shamash (removable)
Above the plate is an additional balcony supported by the four columns and surmounted by a pair of large griffons holding, with their front paws, a round plaque decorated with leaves and flowers and surmounted by a large crown.
Attached to the front part of the lower balcony is a third balcony. Its façade is decorated with vegetal patterns and it is surmounted by eight lions serving as oil fonts. This balcony stands on two bird legs, with claws holding knobs.
Length: 36 cm. Width: 28 cm. Depth: 16 cm.
Compare: Catalogue of the Permanent and Loan Collections of the Jewish Museum, London, R. D. Barnett. London, 1974, item 235, plate LXXXVI.
Provenance: Sotheby's, Tel Aviv, sale no. LN4201, April 1994, lot no. 145 (photographed; appears on the front cover of the catalogue).
Silver (marked, "12" and "BD" in Cyrillic letters), cast, repoussé and engraved; parcel-gilt.
Heavy Hanukkah lamp in an impressive architectonic design.
The back plate is covered in decorations in vegetal patterns. In its center is a small shield held by a pair of griffons – winged eagle-lions. Engraved on the shield is the Hebrew inscription "Blessed art Thou, Lord, to kindle the Chanukah light, Amen", surmounted by an eagle. On the plate's edges, left and right, appear graceful decorations in vegetal patterns, with flowers and grape clusters.
Positioned on a balcony before the back plate are four Corinthian columns. In front of them, on both sides, are a pair of oil containers (with lids), and on the edge is the Shamash (removable)
Above the plate is an additional balcony supported by the four columns and surmounted by a pair of large griffons holding, with their front paws, a round plaque decorated with leaves and flowers and surmounted by a large crown.
Attached to the front part of the lower balcony is a third balcony. Its façade is decorated with vegetal patterns and it is surmounted by eight lions serving as oil fonts. This balcony stands on two bird legs, with claws holding knobs.
Length: 36 cm. Width: 28 cm. Depth: 16 cm.
Compare: Catalogue of the Permanent and Loan Collections of the Jewish Museum, London, R. D. Barnett. London, 1974, item 235, plate LXXXVI.
Provenance: Sotheby's, Tel Aviv, sale no. LN4201, April 1994, lot no. 145 (photographed; appears on the front cover of the catalogue).
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Hanukkah Lamp. Morocco [Fez? Essaouira - Mogador?], [after 1925].
Silver (marked), cut and sawn; chiseled; rivets.
Backplate shaped as a spiked arch, delicately decorated with dense vegetal patterns, with three large flowers (rosettes). The Shamash is positioned in the center of the top flower (attached with rivets) and a stylized loop appears on top of the arch. Two sawn side panels, decorated with vegetal patterns, opening towards the sides with hinges; removable. A row of rectangular oil fonts with pinched spouts is attached with screws and nuts. The base of the bottom panel is attached with rivets to a rectangular silver plaque, with a wide oil basin whose two front corners are pinched, attached with a hinge.
Length: 29 cm, width: 19-20 cm. Apertures to bottom of side panels and edges of oil basin (for clasps; lacking). Slight bends and small fractures to some of the spikes.
Silver (marked), cut and sawn; chiseled; rivets.
Backplate shaped as a spiked arch, delicately decorated with dense vegetal patterns, with three large flowers (rosettes). The Shamash is positioned in the center of the top flower (attached with rivets) and a stylized loop appears on top of the arch. Two sawn side panels, decorated with vegetal patterns, opening towards the sides with hinges; removable. A row of rectangular oil fonts with pinched spouts is attached with screws and nuts. The base of the bottom panel is attached with rivets to a rectangular silver plaque, with a wide oil basin whose two front corners are pinched, attached with a hinge.
Length: 29 cm, width: 19-20 cm. Apertures to bottom of side panels and edges of oil basin (for clasps; lacking). Slight bends and small fractures to some of the spikes.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $20,000
Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
Sold for: $25,000
Including buyer's premium
A monumental synagogue lamp created by Ludwig Yehudah Wolpert (1900-1981). [New-York, ca. 1945-1970].
Cast brass, bent and sawn; wiring. Signed: Wolpert.
A monumental seven-branched lamp. A long legend, in sawn letters, appears on front of the lamp, in a style characteristic of Wolpert's works, with verses of consolation from the Haftara to the Parasha "BeHa'alotcha" and Shabat-Chanukkah, from Zechariah's vision (in which appears a depiction of the seven-branched lamp): "Roni vesimchi bat Zion…" (Zechariah 2; 14 and 16).
A sketch for the design of this lamp is held in the New-York Jewish Museum, along with an early photograph of the lamp, showing two additional oil-fonts on both sides (apparently over the years the oil fonts were removed and the lamp was converted from a Hanukkah lamp to a seven-branched lamp), both items were donated to the Jewish Museum by Wolpert's widow (see enclosed material). Enclosed is a photograph of the lamp side by side with other ceremonial objects in "Beth-El" synagogue in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Height: 195 cm. Width of branches: 70 cm, width of base: 49 cm. Good overall condition. Loose screw to one of the oil fonts. A number of screws are missing. Some stains. Electric wire is cut, with no plug.
Provenance: purchased from "Beth-El" synagogue in Quincy, Massachusetts, upon its closure, February 2013.
Cast brass, bent and sawn; wiring. Signed: Wolpert.
A monumental seven-branched lamp. A long legend, in sawn letters, appears on front of the lamp, in a style characteristic of Wolpert's works, with verses of consolation from the Haftara to the Parasha "BeHa'alotcha" and Shabat-Chanukkah, from Zechariah's vision (in which appears a depiction of the seven-branched lamp): "Roni vesimchi bat Zion…" (Zechariah 2; 14 and 16).
A sketch for the design of this lamp is held in the New-York Jewish Museum, along with an early photograph of the lamp, showing two additional oil-fonts on both sides (apparently over the years the oil fonts were removed and the lamp was converted from a Hanukkah lamp to a seven-branched lamp), both items were donated to the Jewish Museum by Wolpert's widow (see enclosed material). Enclosed is a photograph of the lamp side by side with other ceremonial objects in "Beth-El" synagogue in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Height: 195 cm. Width of branches: 70 cm, width of base: 49 cm. Good overall condition. Loose screw to one of the oil fonts. A number of screws are missing. Some stains. Electric wire is cut, with no plug.
Provenance: purchased from "Beth-El" synagogue in Quincy, Massachusetts, upon its closure, February 2013.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Sold for: $9,375
Including buyer's premium
A very large papercut, with verses and symbols for blessing and protection, for the home or for the synagogue. Morocco, [late 19th or early 20th century].
Papercut; colorful aluminum foils; ink on paper.
Papercut, in a symmetric composition, decorated with a large seven-branched Menorah, with architectural and vegetal motifs, with arcades within which are Menorahs decorated with crescents and stars, Hamsas and large birds (peacocks or swans). The background of the papercut, which is made of white paper, consists of purple, pink, green and red shiny aluminum foils.
Above the Menorah in the central panel, appears the tetragrammaton; in the right and left panels appear text-frames with verses for protection and blessing, blessing of Esau and Jacob: "So God give thee…" (Genesis 27, 28-29, Genesis 28, 3-4).
Among hundreds of known Jewish papercuts, there are only a few from Morocco. This papercut belongs to a very small group of almost-identical large papercuts, decorated with shiny colorful papers and bearing verses of blessings, Menorahs and similar decorations. Dr. Giza Frenkel mentions in the introduction to the chapter "Jewish papercuts in North Africa" that this group of papercuts, "of large dimensions – similar to the 'Mizrah' of Jews in East Europe – decorated the walls of homes and synagogues. Sometimes it was presented… to a young couple, and then the inscriptions matched the occasion… often these 'Menorahs' were donated to a synagogue by people who could not afford donating a Torah scroll". Yehudit and Joseph Shadur mention in their book "Traditional Jewish Papercuts", that undoubtedly, all of these papercuts (about three), were created by one person. The papercut offered here is part of this group, examples of which are found in the collections of the Wolfson Museum Of Jewish Art (Heichal Shlomo) and the New-York Jewish Museum.
Approx. 75 X 92 cm. Framed, unexamined out of frame. Fair-good condition. Stains, tears and lacking pieces.
Literature:
1. Jews of Morocco, Aviva Moler-Lanzet (editor). The Israel Museum, 1983), p. 58.
2. Traditional Jewish Papercuts, by Joseph and Yehudit Shadur, Hanover & England, 2002, pp. 174, Ill. No. 5.27
3. Jewish Papercuts, a History and Guide, Joseph and Yehudit Shadur. Judah L. Magnes Museum, Berkeley, California & Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 1994, Plate 28.
4. Morocco, Jews and Art in a Muslim Land, Vivian B. Mann (ed.), Merrell, New York, 2000, Item no. 100, pp. 14-15.
5. Bemahzor Hayamim, Religious and Secular Customs in Jewish Ceremonial Art and Folklore, by Heshil Golnitzki, Friends of Jewish Folklore, Haifa, 1963, plate no 73; p. 66.
Provenance: Collection of Heshil Golnitzky, Haifa.
Papercut; colorful aluminum foils; ink on paper.
Papercut, in a symmetric composition, decorated with a large seven-branched Menorah, with architectural and vegetal motifs, with arcades within which are Menorahs decorated with crescents and stars, Hamsas and large birds (peacocks or swans). The background of the papercut, which is made of white paper, consists of purple, pink, green and red shiny aluminum foils.
Above the Menorah in the central panel, appears the tetragrammaton; in the right and left panels appear text-frames with verses for protection and blessing, blessing of Esau and Jacob: "So God give thee…" (Genesis 27, 28-29, Genesis 28, 3-4).
Among hundreds of known Jewish papercuts, there are only a few from Morocco. This papercut belongs to a very small group of almost-identical large papercuts, decorated with shiny colorful papers and bearing verses of blessings, Menorahs and similar decorations. Dr. Giza Frenkel mentions in the introduction to the chapter "Jewish papercuts in North Africa" that this group of papercuts, "of large dimensions – similar to the 'Mizrah' of Jews in East Europe – decorated the walls of homes and synagogues. Sometimes it was presented… to a young couple, and then the inscriptions matched the occasion… often these 'Menorahs' were donated to a synagogue by people who could not afford donating a Torah scroll". Yehudit and Joseph Shadur mention in their book "Traditional Jewish Papercuts", that undoubtedly, all of these papercuts (about three), were created by one person. The papercut offered here is part of this group, examples of which are found in the collections of the Wolfson Museum Of Jewish Art (Heichal Shlomo) and the New-York Jewish Museum.
Approx. 75 X 92 cm. Framed, unexamined out of frame. Fair-good condition. Stains, tears and lacking pieces.
Literature:
1. Jews of Morocco, Aviva Moler-Lanzet (editor). The Israel Museum, 1983), p. 58.
2. Traditional Jewish Papercuts, by Joseph and Yehudit Shadur, Hanover & England, 2002, pp. 174, Ill. No. 5.27
3. Jewish Papercuts, a History and Guide, Joseph and Yehudit Shadur. Judah L. Magnes Museum, Berkeley, California & Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 1994, Plate 28.
4. Morocco, Jews and Art in a Muslim Land, Vivian B. Mann (ed.), Merrell, New York, 2000, Item no. 100, pp. 14-15.
5. Bemahzor Hayamim, Religious and Secular Customs in Jewish Ceremonial Art and Folklore, by Heshil Golnitzki, Friends of Jewish Folklore, Haifa, 1963, plate no 73; p. 66.
Provenance: Collection of Heshil Golnitzky, Haifa.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue
Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
November 13, 2018
Opening: $2,500
Estimate: $6,000 - $10,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Two amulets printed on paper, with woodcut illustrations. [Sulzbach? Germany, 18th century].
· Amulet for the protection of a woman who gave birth to a boy and of the newborn.
Printed amulet depicting an encounter between Elijah and Lilith. A circumcision is portrayed at the top. On the right and left margins are the figures of Adam (right) and Chava (left), each standing on a balcony with a canopy. Beneath the title "LeZachar" ("For a Male") is a German text in Hebrew letters. Printed at the bottom is the inscription: "Brit Kodesh" ("Holy Covenant").
Length: 17.5 cm, width: 21.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Creases, folding marks and wear. Left margin trimmed. Mounted on black cardboard and framed.
· Amulet for the protection of a woman who gave birth to a girl and of the newborn.
Printed amulet depicting an encounter between Elijah and Lilith. A woman kindling Shabbat lights in a hanging lamp ("Judenstern") is portrayed at the top. On the right and left margins are the figures of Adam (right) and Chava (left), each standing on a balcony with a canopy. Beneath the title "LiNekeva" ("For a Female") is a German text in Hebrew letters. Printed at the bottom in Hebrew is the inscription: "Family purity, dough tithing, candle lighting" (the three commandments applying specifically to the Jewish woman).
Length: 15-15.5 cm, width: 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Creases and wear. Margins trimmed. Small holes to upper part. Small tear (repaired). Two small pieces of paper attached to top of verso.
See: Jewish Tradition in Art - The Feuchtwanger Collection of Judaica, by Dr. Isaiah Shachar (Israel Museum, 1981), Items 2-3.
· Amulet for the protection of a woman who gave birth to a boy and of the newborn.
Printed amulet depicting an encounter between Elijah and Lilith. A circumcision is portrayed at the top. On the right and left margins are the figures of Adam (right) and Chava (left), each standing on a balcony with a canopy. Beneath the title "LeZachar" ("For a Male") is a German text in Hebrew letters. Printed at the bottom is the inscription: "Brit Kodesh" ("Holy Covenant").
Length: 17.5 cm, width: 21.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Creases, folding marks and wear. Left margin trimmed. Mounted on black cardboard and framed.
· Amulet for the protection of a woman who gave birth to a girl and of the newborn.
Printed amulet depicting an encounter between Elijah and Lilith. A woman kindling Shabbat lights in a hanging lamp ("Judenstern") is portrayed at the top. On the right and left margins are the figures of Adam (right) and Chava (left), each standing on a balcony with a canopy. Beneath the title "LiNekeva" ("For a Female") is a German text in Hebrew letters. Printed at the bottom in Hebrew is the inscription: "Family purity, dough tithing, candle lighting" (the three commandments applying specifically to the Jewish woman).
Length: 15-15.5 cm, width: 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Creases and wear. Margins trimmed. Small holes to upper part. Small tear (repaired). Two small pieces of paper attached to top of verso.
See: Jewish Tradition in Art - The Feuchtwanger Collection of Judaica, by Dr. Isaiah Shachar (Israel Museum, 1981), Items 2-3.
Category
Jewish Ceremonial Art
Catalogue