Pair of Torah finials, made by the silversmith Franz Lorenz Turinsky. Vienna, 1806.
Cast silver, repoussé, punched and engraved; marked: hallmarks of Vienna and maker's marks (FLT).
Large, impressive pair of finials. Round, domed base with foliate designs. Tall, polygonal stems with a flattened ball in the center and large crown finial (with a bell in the center), surrounded by a garland of flowers. Engraved Hebrew inscriptions: "Ch.K. Szeged" (= Chevra Kaddisha Szeged; on bases) and "P.Z." (on the crown finials).
Franz Lorenz Turinsky (ca. 1757 – 1829) was a master silversmith in late 18th and early 19th century Vienna. He joined the silversmiths' guild in 1789 and was active until 1828. Other Judaica items he produced, primarily finials and Torah shields can be found in various private and museum collections throughout the world (such as the Jewish Museum, Vienna and the Jewish Museum, New York). There are two other pairs of finials produced by Turinsky in 1806.
The Jewish community of Szeged, Hungary was formed only in 1781. Its first synagogue was built in 1803, and in 1806 – the year these finials were created, the community numbered only 62 members. The Chevra Kaddisha of Szeged was founded already in 1787, when the cemetery was still within the town. Before the outbreak of WWII, the community numbered 4161, but most perished in the Holocaust.
For other items by Turinsky and more information about him, see: Center for Jewish Art, items 37219, 4002 (the Bill Gross collection); Crowning Glory, item 322; Pierre Berge auction catalog (June 2015), item 15.
Height: 37 cm. Diameter of base: 13 cm. Minor bends. Crown finial partially detached in one finial; lacking part of the floral garland. Small holes to bases. Presumably lacking ornaments above crowns.
Provenance: Collection of Rabbi Tamás Raj, Budapest.

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