AN IMPORTANT PARCEL-GILT SILVER TORAH SHIELD ENGRAVED WITH A PLAN OF THE HOLY TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, ATTRIBUTED TO ELIMELEKH TZOREF OF STANISLAV, CIRCA 1780

AN IMPORTANT PARCEL-GILT SILVER TORAH SHIELD ENGRAVED WITH A PLAN OF THE HOLY TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, ATTRIBUTED TO ELIMELEKH TZOREF OF STANISLAV, CIRCA 1780

composed as follows:

the front with pierced gilt overlay of scrollwork inhabited by fantastic beasts with leafy tails, openwork chased columns decorated with fruit, topped by baskets of flowers and rising from plinths chased with facing lions, the base with a pair of birds flanking a spray of fruit and flowers, the center engraved and chased with the Tablets of the Law under an openwork crown, all surrounded by six plaquettes of a goat, ox, reclining deer, elephant and howdah, leopard, and bear, raised rim of running leaf tips

the back engraved with a highly detailed diagram of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem including labeled architectural and religious features, all surrounded by a frieze of worshippers in characteristic 18th century Jewish dress leading animals for sacrifice, engraved at the top with the Binding of Isaac, and applied with two lion masks holding the suspension chain

apparently unmarked

height 7 in.

18 cm