Fine lithograph Shiviti plaque, decorated by hand, "by the artist Mordechai Hanoun". [Sephardic lands, ca. early 20th century].
Lithograph; gouache; metallic foil.
Large plaque, divided into three pointed arches. The central arch contains the verse of Shiviti with a LaMenatze'ach Menorah surrounded by the menorah utensils; name of artist signed on menorah base. Engraving-like illustrations of Moses and Aaron, depicted within niches in the two side archways, resembling the illustrations on the title page of the Amsterdam Haggadah. The plaque is inexpertly hand-colored, and decorated with pieces of metallic foil (on the plaque and in cutouts).
The composition and choice of texts is different to the standard, and the impact of various influences is apparent: the figures of Moses and Aaron, the dedication to the donor (written at foot of plaque), and the prayer for sons taken from an Ashkenazi rite siddur, are all typical of Shiviti plaques from Jerusalem. In contrast, the typography is typical of the Persian region, and metallic foil is common in papercuts from North-Africa.
Approx. 60X46 cm. Fair-good condition. Tears. Marginal open tears. Stains. Mounted on leaves of a ledger (with French bookkeeping records).

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.