A Silver Torah Crown of Albany, New York Interest, Possibly American, early 19th century

of typical form, hung with bells and with central urn finial, the arches applied with leaves and bosses, the base tooled with strapwork, engraved with inscriptions, outside base rim and interior rim engraved with presentation inscriptions, minor losses

The crown is inscribed on the outside rim: "H. Myers 1875" and on the interior rim "Presented by Herman Myers to the Anshe Esmeth Synagogue Albany N.Y. September 29th 1875."

as noted re losses
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A synagogue was first suggested in Albany in 1838 by a group led by Joseph Sporborg and they purchased a building at 166 Bassett Street.  A splinter group left Beth El early in 1841 for the congregation Beth El Jacob.  The remaining forth or fifty congregants secured a church at 76 Herkimer Street, which was used until 1864 when a Methodist church became available at Ferry and Franklin.  At this time, the liberal rabbi, Isaac Mayer Wise, advocated reform while both Beth El and Beth El Jacob observed orthodox ritual.  On Rosh Hashana in 1850 the police were called in to stop the violence brought on by his verbal attacks.  As a result, a further splinter group was formed becoming the fourth reformed Jewish congregation in America, Anshe Emeth, or People of Truth, under Rabbi Wise.  Fist in a rented building at Madison Avenue and South Pearl Street, and then at Greene and Hamilton Street, in 1851 they bought a Baptist church on South Pearl Street.  Rabbi Wise left for Cincinnati in 1853 and was followed by Rabbi Elkan Cohen and the abolitionist Rabbi Moritz Mayer, who was forced to leave Charleston, SC, because of his views.  He was succeeded in 1864 by Dr. Max Schlesinger from Germany, who continued until his death in 1919.  In 1879, Anshe Emeth was among the earliest members of the newly established Union of American Hebrew Congregations.  The current synagogue is at Lancaster, Jay and Swan Streets, built 1887-89 at a cost estimated between $145,000-200,000, shared by 200 families.