Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
Displaying 37 - 48 of 59
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $10,625
Including buyer's premium
Majestic Hanukkah lamp, with large peacock depicted as if standing at the center of a theater stage, behind a frame in the form of an ornate arched gate. Made by silversmith Joseph Kohn, Vienna, between 1872 and 1921.
Silver (marked; maker's mark [JK] and Austro-Hungarian mark), cast, repoussé, engraved, and turned; appliqué.
Rectangular base, supported on stylized legs. Base surmounted by central frame, a large peacock, and row of oil fonts. Arch of central frame in turn surmounted by crown, and underneath this, a theater curtain, with acanthus leaves on top on either side. The peacock with impressive tail, filling entire space, crafted down to the finest detail, set back slightly from frame. Narrow (removable) row of oil fonts, supported on its own legs and thus elevated above base. Servant light surmounts acanthus leaf in upper left corner of arch of frame.
Height: approx. 34 cm. Width: approx. 26 cm.
See: Susan L. Braunstein, "Luminous Art, Hanukkah Menorahs of the Jewish Museum, " The Jewish Museum, New York, 2004. Item no. 39.
Silver (marked; maker's mark [JK] and Austro-Hungarian mark), cast, repoussé, engraved, and turned; appliqué.
Rectangular base, supported on stylized legs. Base surmounted by central frame, a large peacock, and row of oil fonts. Arch of central frame in turn surmounted by crown, and underneath this, a theater curtain, with acanthus leaves on top on either side. The peacock with impressive tail, filling entire space, crafted down to the finest detail, set back slightly from frame. Narrow (removable) row of oil fonts, supported on its own legs and thus elevated above base. Servant light surmounts acanthus leaf in upper left corner of arch of frame.
Height: approx. 34 cm. Width: approx. 26 cm.
See: Susan L. Braunstein, "Luminous Art, Hanukkah Menorahs of the Jewish Museum, " The Jewish Museum, New York, 2004. Item no. 39.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000
Unsold
"Seder Tefillat Kol Peh KeMinhag …" ["The Order of Prayer in the Custom of the Holy Sephardi Congregation […], with Translation into Ladino"]. Vienna: Josef Schlesinger Press, 1891. In silver binding with figures of Moses and David.
Silver (with Viennese mark; maker: Jakob Engel, marked JE), cast, engraved, and cut; velvet.
Binding with vegetal patterns in openwork over background of velvet. Front binding with medallion depicting Moses holding the Tablets of the Law. Back binding with medallion depicting King David playing the harp. Two ornate clasps.
2, 214, 62 ff., 19 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Minor tear to front flyleaf. Very minor warping and stains to binding.
Silver (with Viennese mark; maker: Jakob Engel, marked JE), cast, engraved, and cut; velvet.
Binding with vegetal patterns in openwork over background of velvet. Front binding with medallion depicting Moses holding the Tablets of the Law. Back binding with medallion depicting King David playing the harp. Two ornate clasps.
2, 214, 62 ff., 19 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Minor tear to front flyleaf. Very minor warping and stains to binding.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $10,000
Estimate: $12,000 - $14,000
Unsold
Charity box of the Alt-Ofen burial society. Alt-Ofen (Obuda, Budapest), 5560 (1899/1900).
White metal, engraved; brass clasp.
Rectangular box with handle. Inscribed in Hebrew: "Belongs to the Alt-Ofen burial society, commissioned by the community leaders, gabbaim of the charity fund, R. Avraham Baron, R. Leib Deutsch, R. Mordechai Loeffler, R. Yaakov Klein, in 5660 [1899/1900]."
Height: 20.5 cm, width: 13 cm, depth: 10 cm. Rust. Unskilled soldering to clasp loop and coin slot.
White metal, engraved; brass clasp.
Rectangular box with handle. Inscribed in Hebrew: "Belongs to the Alt-Ofen burial society, commissioned by the community leaders, gabbaim of the charity fund, R. Avraham Baron, R. Leib Deutsch, R. Mordechai Loeffler, R. Yaakov Klein, in 5660 [1899/1900]."
Height: 20.5 cm, width: 13 cm, depth: 10 cm. Rust. Unskilled soldering to clasp loop and coin slot.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $12,000
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Unsold
Torah crown. Bohemia or Moravia, [late 18th or early 19th century].
Silver (unmarked), repoussé, embossed and engraved; gilt; glass paste.
Crown consisting of oval circlet and three ribs. The two outer ribs are decorated with vegetal motifs and a gilt band studded with glass paste gems; the gilt central rib and circlet also decorated with colored glass paste. Stylized floral and leaf decorations positioned over circlet, hiding rib seams.
The design of the crown was presumably inspired by the form of the Austrian Imperial crown, made in Prague in 1602.
Height: 18 cm; maximum width: 20 cm. Paste gems and top knop added later (from a different crown).
Provenance: Collection of Richard Teltscher (1888-1974), London (founder of the Jewish Central Museum for Moravia-Silesia in Mikulov in 1936).
For a similar crown, see: Rafi Grafman, "Crowning Glory, Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, " New York (1996), item 513A.
Silver (unmarked), repoussé, embossed and engraved; gilt; glass paste.
Crown consisting of oval circlet and three ribs. The two outer ribs are decorated with vegetal motifs and a gilt band studded with glass paste gems; the gilt central rib and circlet also decorated with colored glass paste. Stylized floral and leaf decorations positioned over circlet, hiding rib seams.
The design of the crown was presumably inspired by the form of the Austrian Imperial crown, made in Prague in 1602.
Height: 18 cm; maximum width: 20 cm. Paste gems and top knop added later (from a different crown).
Provenance: Collection of Richard Teltscher (1888-1974), London (founder of the Jewish Central Museum for Moravia-Silesia in Mikulov in 1936).
For a similar crown, see: Rafi Grafman, "Crowning Glory, Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, " New York (1996), item 513A.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $3,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Unsold
Four silver bells for a Torah ark curtain. Ner Tamid holy burial society, Prague, 1825.
Silver (marked; Prague, TH – presumably Thomas Hopfel), pierced, repoussé and engraved.
Four large silver bells. Each bell is attached with a small ring to a hook, with the front part shaped as a heraldic shield.
Two of the shields are blank and two are inscribed, presumably with the donor's name: "R. Leib Dietrich, gabbai"; "...Ner Tamid burial society."
The custom of hanging bells on the curtain covering the Torah ark was prevalent in Jewish communities in Bohemia and Moravia, and several similar exemplars are found in the Jewish museum of Prague.
The Index of Jewish Art documents several Judaica items made by Thomas Hopfel, including a similar set of bells, made in Prague in 1840, as well as Torah shields, bearing shield-shaped pendants reminiscent of the shields decorating the present bells.
See: The Bezalel Narkiss Index of Jewish Art, Center of Jewish Art (CJA), item 4472 (from the collection of the Jewish Museum in Prague, 1840); item 36853 (from the Gross family collection).
Height of bells: 7.5-8 cm; total height (including hooks): 13-14 cm.
Silver (marked; Prague, TH – presumably Thomas Hopfel), pierced, repoussé and engraved.
Four large silver bells. Each bell is attached with a small ring to a hook, with the front part shaped as a heraldic shield.
Two of the shields are blank and two are inscribed, presumably with the donor's name: "R. Leib Dietrich, gabbai"; "...Ner Tamid burial society."
The custom of hanging bells on the curtain covering the Torah ark was prevalent in Jewish communities in Bohemia and Moravia, and several similar exemplars are found in the Jewish museum of Prague.
The Index of Jewish Art documents several Judaica items made by Thomas Hopfel, including a similar set of bells, made in Prague in 1840, as well as Torah shields, bearing shield-shaped pendants reminiscent of the shields decorating the present bells.
See: The Bezalel Narkiss Index of Jewish Art, Center of Jewish Art (CJA), item 4472 (from the collection of the Jewish Museum in Prague, 1840); item 36853 (from the Gross family collection).
Height of bells: 7.5-8 cm; total height (including hooks): 13-14 cm.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $4,500
Including buyer's premium
Edmund Krenn (1846-1902), the Altneuschul synagogue in Prague, 1892.
Watercolor on paper. Signed and dated.
The oldest active synagogue in Europe, the Altneuschul synagogue in Prague was built in 1270 in Gothic style. The synagogue was originally called "Neu Schul" (new synagogue), and later became "the Altneuschul" (old-new synagogue). According to legend, the name of the synagogue comes from the Hebrew "al tenai" (on condition); the synagogue was allegedly built using stones from the Temple in Jerusalem, on condition they be returned when the Messiah comes. The Maharal of Prague prayed in this synagogue and instituted unique customs there. According to folklore, the Golem of Prague created by the Maharal was buried in the genizah in the attic of the synagogue.
Approx. 60X44 cm. Good condition. Minor defects and stains. In a 75X59 cm frame, unexamined outside of frame. Minor defects to frame.
Watercolor on paper. Signed and dated.
The oldest active synagogue in Europe, the Altneuschul synagogue in Prague was built in 1270 in Gothic style. The synagogue was originally called "Neu Schul" (new synagogue), and later became "the Altneuschul" (old-new synagogue). According to legend, the name of the synagogue comes from the Hebrew "al tenai" (on condition); the synagogue was allegedly built using stones from the Temple in Jerusalem, on condition they be returned when the Messiah comes. The Maharal of Prague prayed in this synagogue and instituted unique customs there. According to folklore, the Golem of Prague created by the Maharal was buried in the genizah in the attic of the synagogue.
Approx. 60X44 cm. Good condition. Minor defects and stains. In a 75X59 cm frame, unexamined outside of frame. Minor defects to frame.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000
Sold for: $5,000
Including buyer's premium
Two wimpels (Torah binders). Copenhagen, Denmark, 1825, 1830.
The use of the wimpel – as a swaddling cloth for a baby boy, repurposed as a Torah binder – is documented among German-Jewish communities as early as the 16th century. Although the custom was also widespread among Jews in Switzerland, Alsace, Bohemia, Moravia, and Denmark, few wimpels of Danish provenance are actually known to us.
Ink, paint, and block print on linen.
1. Wimpel for the circumcision ceremony of "Feivush son of […] Kosman, […] the Holy Sabbath, the 27th of Elul – [under the] Sign Virgo – 5585 [1825] …" (Hebrew). With vegetal patterns, and with illustrations of an upraised, open Torah scroll and a wedding canopy.
Width: 350 cm. Height: 16 cm.
2. Wimpel for the circumcision ceremony of "Aaron son of […] Zerah Segal, born on Tuesday, the 4th intermediate day of Passover 5590 [1830]…" (Hebrew). With illustrations of the head of a lamb (symbolizing Aries, Zodiac sign corresponding to the Hebrew month of Nisan), and of an upraised, open Torah scroll and a wedding canopy. Framing border with recurrent vegetal pattern, block printed.
Width: 330 cm. Height: 21 cm.
Provenance:
1. The Michael and Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection.
2. Sotheby's, the Michael and Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection, auction, New York, April 29, 2013, lot no. 181.
The use of the wimpel – as a swaddling cloth for a baby boy, repurposed as a Torah binder – is documented among German-Jewish communities as early as the 16th century. Although the custom was also widespread among Jews in Switzerland, Alsace, Bohemia, Moravia, and Denmark, few wimpels of Danish provenance are actually known to us.
Ink, paint, and block print on linen.
1. Wimpel for the circumcision ceremony of "Feivush son of […] Kosman, […] the Holy Sabbath, the 27th of Elul – [under the] Sign Virgo – 5585 [1825] …" (Hebrew). With vegetal patterns, and with illustrations of an upraised, open Torah scroll and a wedding canopy.
Width: 350 cm. Height: 16 cm.
2. Wimpel for the circumcision ceremony of "Aaron son of […] Zerah Segal, born on Tuesday, the 4th intermediate day of Passover 5590 [1830]…" (Hebrew). With illustrations of the head of a lamb (symbolizing Aries, Zodiac sign corresponding to the Hebrew month of Nisan), and of an upraised, open Torah scroll and a wedding canopy. Framing border with recurrent vegetal pattern, block printed.
Width: 330 cm. Height: 21 cm.
Provenance:
1. The Michael and Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection.
2. Sotheby's, the Michael and Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection, auction, New York, April 29, 2013, lot no. 181.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $5,250
Including buyer's premium
Upright Hanukkah lamp with uneven arms. Produced by Peter Hertz. Copenhagen, [19th or early 20th century].
Silver, cast; filigree; marked P. Hertz.
Small upright Hanukkah lamp, with a wide base. Uneven arms; drop-shaped and stylized fonts with prickets and rings for wicks on the edge. The servant light is positioned at the top of a removable arm placed on the central arm, which is topped by a spherical knop with a Biblical lyre finial.
The collection of the Jewish community in Denmark includes several silver Judaica items produced by Peter Hertz and his workshop.
Height: 26 cm, width: 23 cm. Some corrosion. Weighted.
Silver, cast; filigree; marked P. Hertz.
Small upright Hanukkah lamp, with a wide base. Uneven arms; drop-shaped and stylized fonts with prickets and rings for wicks on the edge. The servant light is positioned at the top of a removable arm placed on the central arm, which is topped by a spherical knop with a Biblical lyre finial.
The collection of the Jewish community in Denmark includes several silver Judaica items produced by Peter Hertz and his workshop.
Height: 26 cm, width: 23 cm. Some corrosion. Weighted.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Unsold
Hanukkah lamp. Poland, [18th century].
Brass, cast.
Rare model of Hanukkah lamp. At center of openwork back plate, a seven-branched candelabrum (menorah), flanked by tendrils. Pair of birds perched on tendrils. Surmounting menorah, large pair of hands upraised and outstretched in the traditional hand posture of the Priestly Benediction. Pair of massive columns on either side. Side panels with openwork diamond pattern, from which candleholders – to be used as a servant light on Hanukkah or as Sabbath candleholders throughout the year – project forward. Row of oil fonts covered with hinged lid. Lamp supported on four legs.
Height: 28 cm. Width: 29 cm. Depth: 17 cm. Missing screw nut.
Reference: Stanislawa Odrzywolska & Monika Paś, "Judaica in the Collection of the National Museum in Krakow: handicrafts, prints and manuscripts, coins and medals, varia, " Kraków, 2018, Cat. III/126.
Brass, cast.
Rare model of Hanukkah lamp. At center of openwork back plate, a seven-branched candelabrum (menorah), flanked by tendrils. Pair of birds perched on tendrils. Surmounting menorah, large pair of hands upraised and outstretched in the traditional hand posture of the Priestly Benediction. Pair of massive columns on either side. Side panels with openwork diamond pattern, from which candleholders – to be used as a servant light on Hanukkah or as Sabbath candleholders throughout the year – project forward. Row of oil fonts covered with hinged lid. Lamp supported on four legs.
Height: 28 cm. Width: 29 cm. Depth: 17 cm. Missing screw nut.
Reference: Stanislawa Odrzywolska & Monika Paś, "Judaica in the Collection of the National Museum in Krakow: handicrafts, prints and manuscripts, coins and medals, varia, " Kraków, 2018, Cat. III/126.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Unsold
Hanukkah lamp adorned with lions and birds. Poland, [18th or 19th century].
Brass, cast; rivets.
Large, extraordinarily heavy Hanukkah lamp. Openwork back plate, with vase at bottom center, flanked by pair of rampant lions. Back plate surmounted by teardrop-shaped suspension ring, above pair of flowers and flanked by large symmetrical pair of birds on either side. Row of cast rectangular oil fonts, with graceful pinched, pointed spouts for wicks. Spouts protrude through grille, surmounted by row of elegant bud-shaped ornaments. Side panels also in openwork, featuring rampant lions with tails thrust forward and upward to support a pair of candlesticks – to be used as a servant light on Hanukkah or as Sabbath candleholders throughout the year – on either side of lamp. Row of oil fonts flanked by additional pair of birds on either side. Lamp supported on four stylized legs.
Height: 31 cm. Maximum width: 32 cm.
Brass, cast; rivets.
Large, extraordinarily heavy Hanukkah lamp. Openwork back plate, with vase at bottom center, flanked by pair of rampant lions. Back plate surmounted by teardrop-shaped suspension ring, above pair of flowers and flanked by large symmetrical pair of birds on either side. Row of cast rectangular oil fonts, with graceful pinched, pointed spouts for wicks. Spouts protrude through grille, surmounted by row of elegant bud-shaped ornaments. Side panels also in openwork, featuring rampant lions with tails thrust forward and upward to support a pair of candlesticks – to be used as a servant light on Hanukkah or as Sabbath candleholders throughout the year – on either side of lamp. Row of oil fonts flanked by additional pair of birds on either side. Lamp supported on four stylized legs.
Height: 31 cm. Maximum width: 32 cm.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $5,000
Including buyer's premium
Yom Kippur belt buckle. [Probably Poland, 19th century].
Silver (unmarked), cast and engraved; chased.
Rectangular belt buckle, slightly convex, with left and right edges scalloped. Decorated with vegetal patterns and pair of rampant lions supporting a shield engraved with the verse "For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before the Lord" (Leviticus 16:30).
On the Day of Atonement, worshippers customarily wear a particular type of sash in order to tighten the middle of the special white prayer robe worn on the occasion, known as the "kitel." The buckle to this sash would typically be decorated with images of lions, or with a depiction of the Binding of Isaac.
Height: 5.3 cm. Width: 10.5 cm.
Silver (unmarked), cast and engraved; chased.
Rectangular belt buckle, slightly convex, with left and right edges scalloped. Decorated with vegetal patterns and pair of rampant lions supporting a shield engraved with the verse "For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before the Lord" (Leviticus 16:30).
On the Day of Atonement, worshippers customarily wear a particular type of sash in order to tighten the middle of the special white prayer robe worn on the occasion, known as the "kitel." The buckle to this sash would typically be decorated with images of lions, or with a depiction of the Binding of Isaac.
Height: 5.3 cm. Width: 10.5 cm.
Catalogue
Auction 79 - Judaica from the Finkelstein Family Collection
June 21, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Sold for: $5,750
Including buyer's premium
Andrzej Grabowski (1833-1886), Obrachunek z Arendarzem ("Settling the account with the Leaseholder" [A Jewish innkeeper]), 1859.
Oil on canvas mounted on panel, signed and dated. A metal plaque with the name of the artist and title of the work is attached to the frame.
30X29.5 cm. Good condition. Minor defects to paint. In a 45.5X45 cm frame, with minor defects. Unexamined outside of frame.
Expert report by Dr. Kazimierz Buczkowski (Krakow, 1947) mounted on verso, alongside other notes (in Polish).
Oil on canvas mounted on panel, signed and dated. A metal plaque with the name of the artist and title of the work is attached to the frame.
30X29.5 cm. Good condition. Minor defects to paint. In a 45.5X45 cm frame, with minor defects. Unexamined outside of frame.
Expert report by Dr. Kazimierz Buczkowski (Krakow, 1947) mounted on verso, alongside other notes (in Polish).
Catalogue