Wimpel (Torah binder), commemorating the birth of the child Yehuda Leib son of Pinchas. [Germany], Av 5536 [1776].
Ink and paint on linen.
Composed of four nearly identically-sized linen sheets sewn together. At the center, the following inscription appears:
"Yehuda Leib son of R. Pinchas, born Wednesday, 8th Av 5536; may G-d raise him to Torah, marriage, and good deeds…".
Richly decorated throughout its length with vivid, colorful illustrations, including a broad vegetal border and six large narrative illustrations integrated into the text – at the beginning, end, and within. These include:
1. A cartouche with the inscription "A lion has roared; who will not fear?" (Amos 3:8), alluding to the child's name, alongside a depiction of a lion.
2. A Rococo cartouche with another lion and a bearded figure holding a staff.
3. An ornate cartouche with angels surrounding the word "G-d".
4. A large illustration of an open Torah Ark in a synagogue, containing Torah scrolls wrapped in mantles (following the word "to Torah").
5. A large depiction of a wedding ceremony (following the word "marriage"), with figures dressed in elegant period attire.
6. A bird perched on a flowering branch.
In addition to these six large, impressive illustrations – attesting to the skill and professionalism of the artist – the text itself is richly embellished with letters formed in a wide variety of decorative techniques: many shaped like folded fabric ribbons, others incorporating floral or bird motifs, anthropomorphic features such as faces within tagim, and zoomorphic elements (especially in the elongated lamed necks).
The letter forms and overall artistic quality of this wimpel are reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts produced by members of the so-called "Moravian School" of 18th-century manuscript artists, active also in parts of Germany. Ribbon-like letters of the type seen here appear, for example, in the work of Meshullam Zimmel of Polna, Uri Faibush ben Yitzhak Aizik Segal, and Joseph Leipnik. While a direct attribution to these artists cannot be definitively established, the stylistic similarities and the refined quality of the execution clearly place this wimpel among the most beautifully illustrated and richly adorned examples surviving from the 18th century.
Height: 15.5 cm. Length: 352.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Creases, tears, and blemishes, primarily at margins, in some cases affecting text and illustrations, with minor loss (professionally restored). Majority of wimpel well preserved, with vivid colors and clearly legible imagery. Mounted on new linen backing for reinforcement.
