Torah Shield
about 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
A Torah shield was a silver plaque designed to indicate the reading to which the scroll was turned. To preserve the reverence of the congregation towards the scroll, it would be unrolled, out of sight, to the chosen passage in advance of the reading. The passage to be read would then be indicated by a silver plaque, which was practical and which also enhanced the beauty of the Torah scroll. This example includes two cast figures of stags which are probably an allusion to the name of the owner ('stag' in Hebrew is 'tzvi', and in German, 'Hirsch').
Object details
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | silver gilt |
| Brief description | A tree of Life with pomegranates is depicted in the central panel, and above at the top are the ten commandments in Hebrew lettering. |
| Physical description | Torah shield, repousse. decorated with architectural and ornamental elements; pilasters and arches, rococo scrolls, a pair of stags, and a pair of hares. The stags rest atop the columns which flank either side of the 'Trees of Life' in the centre panel. The top panel contains the Ten Commandments in Hebrew lettering. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | '12' assay mark for silver purity marked on shield for the 18th century. 12 lot = .750 (Austro-Hungarian tax marks, possibly Lwow) |
| Credit line | Lent by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation |
| Summary | A Torah shield was a silver plaque designed to indicate the reading to which the scroll was turned. To preserve the reverence of the congregation towards the scroll, it would be unrolled, out of sight, to the chosen passage in advance of the reading. The passage to be read would then be indicated by a silver plaque, which was practical and which also enhanced the beauty of the Torah scroll. This example includes two cast figures of stags which are probably an allusion to the name of the owner ('stag' in Hebrew is 'tzvi', and in German, 'Hirsch'). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:SPJC.1:1-2010 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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