Rimmon
ca. 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Central to Jewish observance is the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The scroll on which the Torah is written is wound on rollers called ‘Trees of Life’ (‘Atzei Hayyim’). It is customary to decorate the rollers with either a crown or a pair of rimmonim. The crown symbolises Majesty and the Law of Torah. The rimmonim evoke the bells worn on the High Priest’s robe as described in the Book of Exodus.
The word rimmonim comes from the Hebrew word for pomegranates. This fine pair belonged to the Sassoon family and was displayed in the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition in London in 1887.
The word rimmonim comes from the Hebrew word for pomegranates. This fine pair belonged to the Sassoon family and was displayed in the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition in London in 1887.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt and filigree |
| Brief description | Rimmon, silver-gilt and filigree, engraved with bells and a crown finial. Netherlands, ca.1780. |
| Physical description | Silver-gilt and filigree rimmon (Torah finial). Tiered hexagonal forms with four rows of bells, with a crown finial and engraved staves. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Presented by Lady Marjorie Gilbert through the American Friends of The Art Fund |
| Object history | Provenance: The Sassoon Family Estate |
| Historical context | One of a pair with M.28-2009 |
| Summary | Central to Jewish observance is the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The scroll on which the Torah is written is wound on rollers called ‘Trees of Life’ (‘Atzei Hayyim’). It is customary to decorate the rollers with either a crown or a pair of rimmonim. The crown symbolises Majesty and the Law of Torah. The rimmonim evoke the bells worn on the High Priest’s robe as described in the Book of Exodus. The word rimmonim comes from the Hebrew word for pomegranates. This fine pair belonged to the Sassoon family and was displayed in the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition in London in 1887. |
| Associated object | M.28-2009 (Set) |
| Bibliographic reference | Catalogue of the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition : Royal Albert Hall, 1887, London : F. Haes, 1888
no.2050 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.27-2009 |
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| Record created | May 26, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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