The Halpern Judaica Collection: Tradition and Treasure | Part I
The Halpern Judaica Collection: Tradition and Treasure | Part I
A Large Parcel-Gilt Silver Torah Crown, probably Polish, late 18th - early 19th century
Auction Closed
December 15, 09:26 PM GMT
Estimate
70,000 - 100,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A Large Parcel-Gilt Silver Torah Crown, probably Polish, late 18th - early 19th century
the base-band chased with flowerheads on diaper ground, repeated on the ribs joined by swags of laurel and flowerheads, inscribed gilt ball finial topped by a bud, hung with gilt bells and set with faceted pastes, also hung with gilt inscribed heart-shaped pendants, the finial with Hebrew inscription, apparently unmarked
Height 19½in. (49.5 cm)
Engraved in Hebrew on the heart-shaped medallions (each says the same thing): “Blessed is our God Who created us for His own glory and gave us a true Torah.”
Engraved in Hebrew around the ball finial: “Donated by Pesah Tsevi ben Dov and his wife Yuta bat Eliezer, from the holy community of Kamenets.”
The scale and sophistication of this piece indicate that it was made in a major artistic center, and the colored "gems" are typical of Polish pieces of the late 18th century.
The inscription on the finial is slightly later, possibly into the 20th century, and probably refers to the town of Kamianets-Podilskyi in modern western Ukraine. This had a thriving Jewish community, numbering about 16,000 at the turn of the century, and comprising about 40% of the city's population. With the beginning of the First World War, many Jews emigrated from the town, but were replaced with refugees from more rural areas fleeing pogroms and other violence. They continued to be a significant portion of the population through the 1920s and 1930s, until the German invasion in July, 1941.