Torah shield. Fürth (Bavaria, Germany), late 18th century [ca. 1790].
Silver, cast, stamped, repoussé and engraved (marked with a crescent-shaped city mark with the letter F for Fürth; date letter R; and maker’s mark IR with four dots above, for the silversmith Johann Jakob Runnecke / Runecke).
A small Torah shield, designed in a form characteristic of shields from Nuremberg, near the city of Fürth. Surmounted by a crown prominently projecting forward; flanked by a pair of columns, also projecting forward, standing on square bases and surmounted by capitals bearing rampant lions.
At center is an oval aperture for interchangeable plaques (plaques lacking); above it is a raised Menorah motif, and below it a relief ornament of the Tablets of the Law (blank). An engraved inscription appears on the column bases, dedicating the shield to R. Lipmann son of R. Isaac and Mrs. Yeruham daughter of R. Moses. Two bells are suspended from rings at the lower part of the shield. Long suspension chain.
The silversmith Johann Jakob Runnecke has been documented in the past by Marc Rosenberg ("Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen", Frankfurter Verlags, Frankfurt A.M., 1922) and other sources and authorities, where Runnecke is referred to as "J. Rimonim". This craftsman, whose Berliner father was also a silversmith, was active in Fürth and produced quite a few articles of Judaica in the late 18th century, including Hanukkah lamps, Torah shields and Torah finials, Kiddush cups, and at least one magnificent Sabbath lamp (formerly part of the Sassoon Family Collection). For another one of his Torah shields, see: Rafi Grafman, Crowning Glory: Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, New York, 1996, Catalogue No. 32. See also next lot.
Height: 22.5 cm. Width: 19 cm. Weight: 571 g. Overall good condition. Minor warping and blemishes. Old soldering repairs. One bell non-original; an additional bell missing. Chain detached from upper loop.
