Torah shield. [Eastern Europe, Poland or Ukraine, 19th century].
Silver, repoussé, embossed and engraved (marked with standard mark "12"); gilt; glass stones.
Torah shield in characteristic Eastern European style, shaped as a square structure topped by a dome. The shield is decorated with repoussé vegetal patterns and affixed with various appliqués, some gilded, affixed with rounded pins and nails: a pair of deer, a pair of large decorated pillars decorated with clusters of grapes, a pair of lions with protruding tongues and a large convex crown set with two glass beads and a turquoise stone. Dedicatory inscription engraved on crown: "Belongs to the lofty leader R. Hirsch…". The center of the shield features a rectangular compartment for interchangeable plaques (one later double-sided plaque included). Suspension chain enclosed (detached).
Height: 22.5 cm. Width: 18 cm. Weight: 385 g. Good condition. Warping and slight fractures, mainly to edges, with some pieces lacking. Minute piece lacking from one lion ornament. Nails affixed to top crown ornament non-original. Holes to upper margins for suspending chain.
