Torah shield. Fürth, late 18th century. Dedicatory inscription dated 5563 [1803].
Silver, cast, stamped, repoussé, and engraved (marked on front and back with crescent-shaped city mark of Fürth [18th century] – the letter "F"; quality mark, "13"; year mark, "E"; and maker’s mark, the initials "IR", and above them, a four-dot mark = the silversmith Johann Jakob Runnecke / Runecke).
Small Torah shield, in a design typical of such shields from nearby Nuremberg. At the top, an elegant crown in relief; on either side a pair of spiraling architectonic columns, also in relief, each supported on a square base and surmounted by a rampant lion. At center, a seven-branched menorah flanked on either side by each of the Two Tablets of the Law, engraved with the (Hebrew) inscription: "Crown / [of the] Torah / in the Year / 5563 [1803]". Underneath the menorah is a rectangular receptacle for interchangeable plaques (one two-sided plaque included); receptacle enclosed in a vegetal-patterned frame. Under this, a blank oval medallion. Dedicatory inscription (Hebrew) engraved on square bases of pillars: "Moshe / son of R. / Shimshon // Handele daughter of R. / Uri". Three large bells are suspended by rings from the bottom edge of the shield, and an additional bell is suspended from the upper crown. All bells apparently original. 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, NY, 1996, no. 32. See also previous lot.
Height: 23.5 cm. Width: 19.5 cm. Weight: 566 g. Overall good condition. Warping, slight fractures, and minor soldering repairs to edges. Chain may not be original.
