Rimmonim
1680-1699 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Rimmonim ('pomegranates') are the finials that top the most sacred object in the Jewish faith, the Torah scroll. This scroll contains the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) and is wound on rollers called the Trees of Life, on which the rimmonim are placed. For protection the scroll is put in a rigid case or covered by a cloth mantle.
The scroll is kept in the Holy Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh), the focal point of the synagogue. On Sabbaths, Mondays, Thursdays and holy days it is taken out and read in front of the congregation.
These rimmonim probably come from the magnificent Torah mantle that was made for the Sephardic synagogue in Amsterdam in the late 17th century (Museum no. 349-1870).
The scroll is kept in the Holy Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh), the focal point of the synagogue. On Sabbaths, Mondays, Thursdays and holy days it is taken out and read in front of the congregation.
These rimmonim probably come from the magnificent Torah mantle that was made for the Sephardic synagogue in Amsterdam in the late 17th century (Museum no. 349-1870).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Rimmonim, pair, South Germany, silver, 1650-1699 |
| Physical description | Filigree bulbous bodies hung with six gilt bells with petals below also suspending six bells. Crown finials with five branched fleur-de-lys above, suspending bells. Plain shafts (perhaps later additions). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Rimmonim
About 1700
The rimmonim are placed on top of the rollers that support the Torah scroll. This scroll contains the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch). During services, it is taken out of the Ark and read aloud to the congregation. The reader uses a yad or pointer to follow the text. You can see this in the image, below the open scroll.
South Germany (probably Augsburg)
Silver filigree; gilded silver bells
Supported by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of The David Berg Foundation, New York
NB: The image used on the label is from Religious Ceremonies and Customs of All the Peoples of the World by Bernard Picart and Jean-Frédéric Bernard, 1723.(09.12.2015) |
| Object history | Purchased from Murray Marks |
| Production | Made in South Germany, possibly Augsburg |
| Summary | Rimmonim ('pomegranates') are the finials that top the most sacred object in the Jewish faith, the Torah scroll. This scroll contains the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) and is wound on rollers called the Trees of Life, on which the rimmonim are placed. For protection the scroll is put in a rigid case or covered by a cloth mantle. The scroll is kept in the Holy Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh), the focal point of the synagogue. On Sabbaths, Mondays, Thursdays and holy days it is taken out and read in front of the congregation. These rimmonim probably come from the magnificent Torah mantle that was made for the Sephardic synagogue in Amsterdam in the late 17th century (Museum no. 349-1870). |
| Associated object | 349-1870 (Set) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 350&a-1870 |
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| Record created | March 4, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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