Torah shield. [Italy, first half of 19th century].
Silver, repoussé (unmarked); iron sheet.
Torah shield in the form of a cartouche surmounted by a crown adorned with flowers along its upper edge. At center, the (Hebrew) inscription "Give honor / to the Torah". Inscribed above this are the Hebrew initials "het", "mem", "zayin" [possibly an abbreviation for "Chevrat Moshav Z’kenim" = "Society of the Home for the Elderly"]. The back of the shield is reinforced with a plate of iron sheet. Lengthy chain for suspension.
For a similar chain (from the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy), see: The Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 15608.
Height: 21.5 cm. Width: 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Old fractures, old soldering repairs; fissures and warping to edges. Strips missing from iron sheet plate on back. Some corrosion.
