Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Displaying 13 - 24 of 79
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $350
Unsold
"Kulmus" (reed pen) Torah pointer. Afghanistan, 5720 [1960].
Silver, cast and engraved.
Flat, stylized Torah pointer with three segments – upper, middle, and lower – each with engraved decorations on either side: three fish on the upper segment; in the middle segment, a bird flanked by gazelles, two pairs of fish to the right and left, and flowers (and on the reverse side, a large Star of David); and a large flower on the lower segment. Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "Moses commanded us a Torah, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob, 8th of Sivan Year 5720 [1960] / This is the kulmus that was dedicated by Yosef Baba Jan son of Binyamin Gul in honor of our Holy Torah...".
The Gul family originated in the Gilan Region of Iran. From there they migrated to Qazvin, then to Mashhad, finally arriving in Herat, Afghanistan in roughly 1746. For more on this subject, see Abraham Mor, "The Jews of Afghanistan: Family Names and Origins" on the website of Tel Aviv's Beit Hatfutsot Museum of the Jewish Diaspora.
In Afghanistan, the Torah pointer was referred to as a "kulmus" (literally, quill pen or reed pen) because of its similarity in appearance to the type of reed used by a scribe. The present Torah pointer is documented in the catalogue "Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home".
Length: 33 cm.
Reference: Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home, item no. 30 (photographed).
Silver, cast and engraved.
Flat, stylized Torah pointer with three segments – upper, middle, and lower – each with engraved decorations on either side: three fish on the upper segment; in the middle segment, a bird flanked by gazelles, two pairs of fish to the right and left, and flowers (and on the reverse side, a large Star of David); and a large flower on the lower segment. Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "Moses commanded us a Torah, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob, 8th of Sivan Year 5720 [1960] / This is the kulmus that was dedicated by Yosef Baba Jan son of Binyamin Gul in honor of our Holy Torah...".
The Gul family originated in the Gilan Region of Iran. From there they migrated to Qazvin, then to Mashhad, finally arriving in Herat, Afghanistan in roughly 1746. For more on this subject, see Abraham Mor, "The Jews of Afghanistan: Family Names and Origins" on the website of Tel Aviv's Beit Hatfutsot Museum of the Jewish Diaspora.
In Afghanistan, the Torah pointer was referred to as a "kulmus" (literally, quill pen or reed pen) because of its similarity in appearance to the type of reed used by a scribe. The present Torah pointer is documented in the catalogue "Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home".
Length: 33 cm.
Reference: Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home, item no. 30 (photographed).
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
"Kulmus" (reed pen) Torah pointer. Afghanistan, [20th century].
Silver, cast and engraved.
Flat, stylized Torah pointer with three segments – upper, middle, and lower – each with engraved decorations in vegetal patterns. Reverse side with engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "...Rahman Asher".
Length: 21 cm.
Silver, cast and engraved.
Flat, stylized Torah pointer with three segments – upper, middle, and lower – each with engraved decorations in vegetal patterns. Reverse side with engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "...Rahman Asher".
Length: 21 cm.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Two "kulmus" (reed pen) Torah pointers. Afghanistan / Bukhara or Dagestan (Central Asia), [20th century].
Silver, cast and engraved; niello.
1. [Bukhara or Afghanistan]. Flat, plain Torah pointer, undecorated. Long, rectangular handle, gently tapering toward hand. Flat hand with extended fingers and long thumb. Length: 29 cm.
2. [Bukhara or Dagestan]. Rectangular handle, surmounted by spherical ornament. Lower segment and spherical ornament decorated in vegetal and geometric patterns, with highlights blackened with niello. Upper segment undecorated. Clenched hand with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Length: 19 cm.
Silver, cast and engraved; niello.
1. [Bukhara or Afghanistan]. Flat, plain Torah pointer, undecorated. Long, rectangular handle, gently tapering toward hand. Flat hand with extended fingers and long thumb. Length: 29 cm.
2. [Bukhara or Dagestan]. Rectangular handle, surmounted by spherical ornament. Lower segment and spherical ornament decorated in vegetal and geometric patterns, with highlights blackened with niello. Upper segment undecorated. Clenched hand with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Length: 19 cm.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Heart-shaped dedicatory plaque ("tass"), for Torah ark curtain. Iraq, 5677 [1917].
Sheet silver, cut, repoussé, and stamped; gilt.
Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "This is the Torah ark curtain [dedicated to] the soul of / the... elderly woman / Habiba daughter of Rahel wife of... / Aharon Ya'akov Karmosh may he rest in Eden / may her soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life, passed away Tuesday / eighth of the month of Tevet / Year 5677 [1917]."
Another dedicatory plaque – virtually identical in design and commemorating the same woman – can be found in the collection of the Wolfson Museum of Jewish Art, Hechal Shlomo, Jerusalem; see: Jewish Life in Art and Tradition, p. 176. See also item nos. 188, 192 in this catalog.
Length: 30 cm. Width: 28 cm. Good condition. Minor warping and fractures to edges.
Sheet silver, cut, repoussé, and stamped; gilt.
Hebrew dedicatory inscription: "This is the Torah ark curtain [dedicated to] the soul of / the... elderly woman / Habiba daughter of Rahel wife of... / Aharon Ya'akov Karmosh may he rest in Eden / may her soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life, passed away Tuesday / eighth of the month of Tevet / Year 5677 [1917]."
Another dedicatory plaque – virtually identical in design and commemorating the same woman – can be found in the collection of the Wolfson Museum of Jewish Art, Hechal Shlomo, Jerusalem; see: Jewish Life in Art and Tradition, p. 176. See also item nos. 188, 192 in this catalog.
Length: 30 cm. Width: 28 cm. Good condition. Minor warping and fractures to edges.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Torah reading plaque. Iraqi Kurdistan, (Amadiya [Amedi]?), [first decades of 20th century].
Silver, cut, soldered, and engraved.
Designed as Tablets of the Law, engraved with Ten Commandments surmounted with Stars of David. Above this, a three-petaled flower made from 18th-century Austro-Hungarian Maria Theresa Thaler silver coins. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on back: "Donated by Susana daughter of Kazali [of the] Hayyim Family".
Length: 15 cm. Width: 9.5 cm.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 254-55.
Silver, cut, soldered, and engraved.
Designed as Tablets of the Law, engraved with Ten Commandments surmounted with Stars of David. Above this, a three-petaled flower made from 18th-century Austro-Hungarian Maria Theresa Thaler silver coins. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on back: "Donated by Susana daughter of Kazali [of the] Hayyim Family".
Length: 15 cm. Width: 9.5 cm.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 254-55.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Torah reading plaque. Iraqi Kurdistan, (Amadiya [Amedi]?), 5699 [1939].
Silver, cut, soldered, and engraved.
Designed as Tablets of the Law, engraved with Ten Commandments, and surmounted with ornaments in silver thread and granulation, with suspension hole. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on back: "This plaque is dedicated to the synagogue by Hananiyah son of Varda, 5699 [1939]...".
Length: 13 cm. Width: 9 cm.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 254-55.
Silver, cut, soldered, and engraved.
Designed as Tablets of the Law, engraved with Ten Commandments, and surmounted with ornaments in silver thread and granulation, with suspension hole. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on back: "This plaque is dedicated to the synagogue by Hananiyah son of Varda, 5699 [1939]...".
Length: 13 cm. Width: 9 cm.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 254-55.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $400
Unsold
Belt crafted by Jewish silversmith. Sulaymaniyah (Slemani), Iraqi Kurdistan, [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver (parcel gilt), cast, repoussé, and engraved; amber; cotton fabric.
Belt made from thick, broad, green strip of cotton fabric with small silver ornaments in recurrent pattern sewn on. Buckle large and dome-shaped, with vegetal patterns and parcel gilt octagonal star, with suspended chain with decorative hook at end. Long chain with amber bead sewn on next to buckle. Closed either by means of silver belt loop sewn on between ornaments, or with adjacent cloth loop.
A belt like this would be strapped around the baby following the circumcision ceremony; according to other sources, in Iraqi Kurdistan it was worn as a women's belt (the placement of the belt loop in the present belt suggests it was strapped around the baby).
80X8.5 cm.
References: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 214-15; Arab and Islamic Silver, p. 24.
Silver (parcel gilt), cast, repoussé, and engraved; amber; cotton fabric.
Belt made from thick, broad, green strip of cotton fabric with small silver ornaments in recurrent pattern sewn on. Buckle large and dome-shaped, with vegetal patterns and parcel gilt octagonal star, with suspended chain with decorative hook at end. Long chain with amber bead sewn on next to buckle. Closed either by means of silver belt loop sewn on between ornaments, or with adjacent cloth loop.
A belt like this would be strapped around the baby following the circumcision ceremony; according to other sources, in Iraqi Kurdistan it was worn as a women's belt (the placement of the belt loop in the present belt suggests it was strapped around the baby).
80X8.5 cm.
References: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 214-15; Arab and Islamic Silver, p. 24.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Large, elegant women's belt buckle, apparently crafted by Jewish silversmith. Iraqi Kurdistan (Sulaymaniyah?), [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé, stamped, engraved, and pierced.
Consisting of two slightly convex rectangular parts with symmetrical vegetal patterns and droplet-like ("boteh" or paisley) patterns. Tapering arched silver ornaments soldered onto left and right edges. Closed with long pin.
36X9.5 cm. Missing chain formerly connecting pin to buckle.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 214-15.
Silver, repoussé, stamped, engraved, and pierced.
Consisting of two slightly convex rectangular parts with symmetrical vegetal patterns and droplet-like ("boteh" or paisley) patterns. Tapering arched silver ornaments soldered onto left and right edges. Closed with long pin.
36X9.5 cm. Missing chain formerly connecting pin to buckle.
Reference: Jews of Kurdistan: Lifestyle, Tradition, and Art, pp. 214-15.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Belt buckle with gemstones. Kurdistan, probably Syrian Kurdistan (made in Aleppo, Syria), [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé; silver thread and granulation; gemstones.
Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets ("boteh" or paisleys), decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with large gemstones in middle. At center, dome-shaped ornament covers clasp – also decorated with silver thread and granulation (top of clasp was originally set with additional gemstone). Clasp closed with hook.
29.5X9.5 cm. Missing gemstones. Old soldering repairs.
Reference: The Arts and Crafts of Syria, p. 95.
Silver, repoussé; silver thread and granulation; gemstones.
Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets ("boteh" or paisleys), decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with large gemstones in middle. At center, dome-shaped ornament covers clasp – also decorated with silver thread and granulation (top of clasp was originally set with additional gemstone). Clasp closed with hook.
29.5X9.5 cm. Missing gemstones. Old soldering repairs.
Reference: The Arts and Crafts of Syria, p. 95.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Belt buckle decorated with granulation. Syrian Kurdistan (probably made in Aleppo, Syria), [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé; silver thread and granulation; beads.
Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets ("boteh" or paisleys), surface of both parts entirely decorated with granulation and diamond-shaped silver ornaments with red and light blue colored beads set in their centers. In middle, dome-shaped ornament covers clasp; also decorated with silver thread and granulation and topped with silver knob. Closes with hook.
11X25 cm. Missing beads.
References: The Arts and Crafts of Syria, p. 95; Arab and Islamic Silver, p. 130.
Silver, repoussé; silver thread and granulation; beads.
Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets ("boteh" or paisleys), surface of both parts entirely decorated with granulation and diamond-shaped silver ornaments with red and light blue colored beads set in their centers. In middle, dome-shaped ornament covers clasp; also decorated with silver thread and granulation and topped with silver knob. Closes with hook.
11X25 cm. Missing beads.
References: The Arts and Crafts of Syria, p. 95; Arab and Islamic Silver, p. 130.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $300
Unsold
Elegant silver buckle. Kurdistan, probably Iraqi Kurdistan (northern Iraq), [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé, engraved and pierced; silver thread and granulation; glass beads; silver coins; stones.
Consisting of two convex rectangular parts with tapering arched silver decorations soldered onto left and right edges. Decorated with symmetrical vegetal and geometric patterns. At center of each part, filigreed and granulation dome-shaped ornament, with red glass bead set at top. Clasp covered by three dome-shaped ornaments set with green and red glass beads. Suspended from bottom of buckle, chains with pendants, including silver coins, crescent-shaped and eye-shaped pendants, a coral and an additional stone, and flower-shaped pendants. Closed with long pin.
28X20 cm (including pendants).
Silver, repoussé, engraved and pierced; silver thread and granulation; glass beads; silver coins; stones.
Consisting of two convex rectangular parts with tapering arched silver decorations soldered onto left and right edges. Decorated with symmetrical vegetal and geometric patterns. At center of each part, filigreed and granulation dome-shaped ornament, with red glass bead set at top. Clasp covered by three dome-shaped ornaments set with green and red glass beads. Suspended from bottom of buckle, chains with pendants, including silver coins, crescent-shaped and eye-shaped pendants, a coral and an additional stone, and flower-shaped pendants. Closed with long pin.
28X20 cm (including pendants).
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue
Auction 81 - The Wily Lindwer Collection
July 13, 2021
Opening: $200
Unsold
Two belt buckles, probably crafted by Jewish silversmith. Kurdistan, most likely Iraqi Kurdistan (northern Iraq), [early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé, stamped and engraved; silver thread and granulation.
1. Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets, decorated with vegetal and geometric patterns, and with crescent patterns. At center, cylindrical ornament covering clasp, decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with dome-shaped ornament on top, set with light blue bead (turquoise?). Tiny, sun-shaped decorations on back. Closed with hook. 28.5X11.5 cm.
2. Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets, decorated at their centers with geometric diamond shapes and in the margins with a wreath of leaves. In middle, cylindrical ornament covering clasp, decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with dome-shaped ornament on top, set with red-colored bead (coral?). Tiny, sun-shaped decorations on back. Closed with hook. 29.5X11 cm.
See also item no. 124.
Silver, repoussé, stamped and engraved; silver thread and granulation.
1. Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets, decorated with vegetal and geometric patterns, and with crescent patterns. At center, cylindrical ornament covering clasp, decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with dome-shaped ornament on top, set with light blue bead (turquoise?). Tiny, sun-shaped decorations on back. Closed with hook. 28.5X11.5 cm.
2. Consisting of two large parts shaped like droplets, decorated at their centers with geometric diamond shapes and in the margins with a wreath of leaves. In middle, cylindrical ornament covering clasp, decorated with silver thread and granulation, and with dome-shaped ornament on top, set with red-colored bead (coral?). Tiny, sun-shaped decorations on back. Closed with hook. 29.5X11 cm.
See also item no. 124.
Category
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Kurdistan / Mountain Jews and the Caucasus
Catalogue