Physical description
Silver hanukkah lamp: London hallmark for 1747-8, mark of the initials JLA framed in rich embossed and chased foliage against a background of scaled ornament, cast scrolls and shell border into the top of which is set the shammash (servitor lamp). At the bottom is a tray of eight lamps, above a trough fitted to a drain, to which a bowl is hooked. The bowl is round with swelling sides and swivel handle.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1747-1748 (made)
Artist/maker
Jacob Marsh (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Embossed and chased silver
Marks and inscriptions
Hallmarked London, 1747-8
Makers mark IM for Jacob Marsh
Dimensions
Height: 39 cm, Width: 25 cm, Diameter: 7.5 cm of bowl, Height: 10 cm of bowl with handle extended
Object history note
This lamp was made for Solomon de Aaron Abecassis, who came to Britain from Gibraltar in the early 18th century. The initials in the backplate are those of the donor's grandparents, Jules and Lavina Abecassis, who lived during the middle of the 19th century.
Historical context note
Jewish Worship
Judaism is the oldest religion in the world to worship the one God.World Jewry has three main groups: Sephardic, Askenazic and Mizrahi (the Jews who never left the Middle East). All are bound together by a common history and their adherence to the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and the Talmud (a compendium of rabbinic law and lore).
Jewish religious traditions and rituals centre on the home, the community and the synagogue. Central to Judaism is the observance of the Sabbath. This is a holy day, set apart from the rest of the working week. It begins one hour before sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday evening when three stars can be seen in the night sky.
The Jewish year revolves around a number of festivals, such as Passover. These originated in ancient times and embody multiple layers of meaning, from agricultural festivals to historical events.
Descriptive line
Hanukah lamp
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Keen, Michael. Jewish Ritual Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1991. 43 p., ill. ISBN 0112904491.
Exhibition History
Jewish Worship (Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum 22/11/2005-22/11/2005)
Labels and date
Hanukkah Lamp
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. This winter festival lasts eight days and an extra flame is lit for each night of the festival.
London, England, 1747-8; by Jacob Marsh
(active 1726-72). Silver
Museum nos. M.75&A-1949 [22/11/2005]
Materials
Silver
Techniques
Chasing; Embossing
Subjects depicted
Scroll-work; Judaism
Categories
Metalwork; Religion; Lighting; Judaism
Collection code
MET
