Dedicatory plaque for synagogue lamp. Darmstadt, State of Hesse, Germany, 1842.
Brass, repoussé and engraved; gilt.
Unique dedicatory plaque engraved with the detailed history of the synagogue lamps of the synagogue of Darmstadt from the day of its establishment in 1737 until 1842, whereupon the synagogue was renovated and expanded, and new lamps were acquired. The plaque was meant to be hung on, or adjacent to, one of the synagogue's lamps.
A round, convex plaque upon which the following inscription is engraved in concentric circles:
"For eternal remembrance. In this synagogue built in the year 5497 to the Creation of the World
[1737]
, we had 12 copper lamps, some of them engraved with the names of the donors among the people. And these are their names: / Community leader R. Chaim Leib donated two lamps in 1737; R. Sanwel Gans and his wife Mrs. Ettel of Frankfurt donated one lamp on Rosh Chodesh Sivan 1737; R. Moshe Herben and his wife Mrs. Gittel donated one lamp in 1738; / R. Yuda Leib son of R. Moshe Natan Segal of Hanover and his wife… Mrs. Serela daughter of community leader R. Simcha Bunem donated two lamps on Shavuot 1739; Jetcha daughter of the physician R. Judman of Frankfurt, wife of R. David, donated one lamp; / Shenla daughter of R. Yitzchak Reis of Frankfurt, wife of the late community leader R. Bunem, arranged before the Torah Ark a large lamp of 12 lights, and also candlesticks on the Bimah corresponding in number to the 12 Tribes of Israel; / six sconces protruding from the walls of the synagogue were donated by R. Yuda Yirmiah son of the late community leader R. Aharon Fulda, and his wife Shencha daughter of R. Leib Hanover, 1800; / and now in 1842 we have expanded the synagogue and the aforementioned lamps were broken at their edges, and / the community leaders convened to sell them and purchase instead this lamp to illuminate our sanctuary, / and insofar as what was reached was insufficient, they added from the funds of our congregation / here / Darmstadt…".
Diameter: 20 cm. Depth: 3 cm. Overall good condition. Slight warping to rim. Gilt mostly faded. Two suspension chains on back, one torn and partly missing.
