Hanukkah lamp thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Hanukkah lamp

Hanukkah Lamp
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hanukkah is the Jewish 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHanukkah lamp
Materials and techniques
gilt bronze
Brief description
Hanukkah lamp, gilt bronze, Italy, 1600-1700.
Physical description
Consisting of a backplate and an eight nozelled lamp all cast in one, attached along the bottom by pins. The backplate has been cast and pierced with two grotesque long necked female forms issuing from scrolling foliage and flanking a cartouche bearing a coat-of-arms. Below is a faun mask; above two amorini support a Cardinal's hat over the arms. There is a suspension ring at the top. The coat-of-arms is that of Jacopo Synessino, created Cardinal in 1604, impaling those of Pope Clement V111 (Ippolito Aldobrandini) The coat-of-arms, however, has been reversed in casting.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 22.5cm
Credit line
Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest
Summary
Hanukkah is the Jewish 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.
Bibliographic reference
Keen, Michael.Jewish Ritual Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum London: HMSO, 1991.42, ill.ISBN 0112904491
Collection
Accession number
M.418-1956

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Record createdJanuary 2, 2003
Record URL
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