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Pentateuch

Artist's Book
1990 (published)
Artist/Maker

This unique artist's book is characteristic of her exquisitely crafted bookworks, encased in boxes, to be discovered.

The parchment outer casing contains a blue suede box-style 'binding' decorated with a carved and gold painted sunburst. This opens symmetrically to reveal two accordian folded sheets, richly adorned, which themselves fold away to reveal an 'inner sanctum' guarded by two hinged gold doors. These open to reveal a structure of paper sections containing five metallic painted tablets corresponding to the five books of the Pentateuch or Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

The leaves and tablets are richly embellished and include a series of miniature Judaica, including a Torah scroll, a map of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, and two miniature illuminations depicting Adam, Eve and the serpent, and Samson and the lion. The sumptuous feel of the work is highly evocative of Jewish ritual art.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePentateuch (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Book object in blue suede and parchment box, paper, copper thread, metallic painted tablets, paint, paste jewels, cut work, a miniature map, and two miniature illuminations.
Brief description
Artist's book, 'Pentateuch', by Gloria Helfgott, 1990
Physical description
Book object housed in a box covered in blue suede. Box opens symmetrically to reveal two concertina folded sheets attached to the lids and a further box with two panel-like lids. When the panels are raised, two further concertina-folded sheets appear bound with copper thread, thereby creating five compartments into which five metallic painted tablets are inserted.

The leaves and tablets are embellished throughout with copper coloured paint and thread, passages from the Bible, paste jewels, cut work, a miniature map, and two miniature illuminations.

In a parchment covered box

Signed and dated by the artist
Dimensions
  • Height: 24cm
  • Width: 22cm
  • Depth: 15cm
Summary
This unique artist's book is characteristic of her exquisitely crafted bookworks, encased in boxes, to be discovered.

The parchment outer casing contains a blue suede box-style 'binding' decorated with a carved and gold painted sunburst. This opens symmetrically to reveal two accordian folded sheets, richly adorned, which themselves fold away to reveal an 'inner sanctum' guarded by two hinged gold doors. These open to reveal a structure of paper sections containing five metallic painted tablets corresponding to the five books of the Pentateuch or Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

The leaves and tablets are richly embellished and include a series of miniature Judaica, including a Torah scroll, a map of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, and two miniature illuminations depicting Adam, Eve and the serpent, and Samson and the lion. The sumptuous feel of the work is highly evocative of Jewish ritual art.
Other number
X920046 - NAL Pressmark
Collection
Library number
38041992101626

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Record createdApril 29, 2014
Record URL
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