Pair of Torah finials. Egypt, Italian-Jewish community, [early 20th century]. Dedicatory inscription dated 1953.
Silver, cast and engraved; chased.
Torah finials of Italian design, in a style familiar from Trieste, slender and tall in shape. Body surmounted by column of three flattened spheres. Central part of body hexagonal, with all faces decorated in vegetal pattern. Chains with bells at ends suspended from suspension loops at bottom corners of hexagon. Base of body cup-shaped. Tall shafts, tapering upward. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on both shafts, in memory of "Menahem Rokez son of Simha" and his wife, "Luna Rokez daughter of Miryam." Mark of maker, "Hayyim Cohen Saban" appears on both shafts, along with date in Arabic, 1953, apparently same as date of dedicatory inscription.
Height: 35 cm. Good condition. Loose screw joints.
References: Crowning Glory, Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, New York, item no. 397; Center for Jewish Art, item no. 3202.