Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5
![Three mezuzah cases (“jitah del mezuzah”). [Algeria, Morocco or vicinity, early decades of the 20th century].
Silver s](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/106_1.jpg "Three Silver Mezuzah Cases – North Africa")
![Three mezuzah cases (“jitah del mezuzah”). [Algeria, Morocco or vicinity, early decades of the 20th century].
Silver s](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/106_2.jpg "Three Silver Mezuzah Cases – North Africa")
![Three mezuzah cases (“jitah del mezuzah”). [Algeria, Morocco or vicinity, early decades of the 20th century].
Silver s](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/106_3.jpg "Three Silver Mezuzah Cases – North Africa")
Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Three mezuzah cases (“jitah del mezuzah”). [Algeria, Morocco or vicinity, early decades of the 20th century].
Silver sheet, cut and repoussé, nailed onto wooden boards.
Three mezuzah cases of similar design: each centered with a seven-branched menorah, topped by the inscription “Shaddai”. Two of the plaques feature additional Temple implements, and one includes a pair of palms (Hamsa).
The third plaque slightly differs in design, with a pair of architectural columns topped with tree- or shrub-like floral motifs; this plaque also contains a mezuzah scroll affixed to its reverse and has decoratively cut edges.
Height: 22-24 cm, width: 15-16 cm. Condition varies. Two items with some missing silver sheet pieces.
Literature: Aviva Muller-Lancet (ed.), Jewish Life in Morocco, the Israel Museum, 1983, p. 60.
Category
Mezuzah Cases and Amulets
Catalogue Value
![Mezuzah case by Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert (1900-1981). [New York, ca. 1960s]. Signed on reverse: "Wolpert".
Ster](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/107_1.jpg "Mezuzah Case – Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert – New York, 1960s")
![Mezuzah case by Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert (1900-1981). [New York, ca. 1960s]. Signed on reverse: "Wolpert".
Ster](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/107_2.jpg "Mezuzah Case – Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert – New York, 1960s")
Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Opening: $500
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Mezuzah case by Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert (1900-1981). [New York, ca. 1960s]. Signed on reverse: "Wolpert".
Sterling silver, cut and pierced; ink on parchment.
Designed as a pair of Ark doors. Rectangular base with two holes for affixing to a doorpost; removable concave front inscribed in sewn Hebrew letters, in Wolpert’s distinctive style: "Barukh atah bevo'akha uvarukh atah betsetekha".
Cylindrical shaft in center for housing the parchment scroll, with small window revealing the word "Shaddai". The mezuzah parchment is written in Ashkenazi scribal hand (ca. mid-20th century).
Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert (1900-1981), Israeli-American designer and silversmith, a pioneer of the modernist style in Jewish ceremonial art. Born near Heidelberg to an Orthodox family of Eastern European origin, he studied sculpture and metalwork at the Frankfurt School of Arts, influenced by Bauhaus principles and the modernist designs of his teacher Christian Dell.
In 1933, following the Nazi rise to power, he emigrated to Palestine. In 1935, he joined the faculty of the New Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem, where he co-directed the metalwork department with David Heinz Gumbel.
Wolpert’s work is distinguished by its synthesis of modernist silversmithing with Hebrew typography and biblical texts. In 1956, he moved to the U.S., where he headed the Tobe Pascher Workshop for Modern Jewish Art at the Jewish Museum, New York.
For comparison, see: Sharon Weiser-Ferguson (curator), Forging Ahead: Wolpert and Gumbel, Israeli Silversmiths for the Modern Age, Israel Museum, 2012, p. 80 and p. 65 (Torah Ark doors) [Hebrew edition].
Approx. 13X9X1.5 cm. Good condition. Minor staining and blemishes. Suspension holes in the back.
Category
Mezuzah Cases and Amulets
Catalogue Value
![Six amulets. [Italy, 19th and early 20th century].
Silver sheet, repoussé and stamped; silver, cast and engrave](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/108.jpg "Six Silver Amulets – Italy, 19th and Early 20th Century")
Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Six amulets. [Italy, 19th and early 20th century].
Silver sheet, repoussé and stamped; silver, cast and engraved (unmarked).
1-3. Three silver-sheet amulets of similar design: a central heart inscribed "Shaddai", surrounded by vegetal motifs; a flame-like ornament at the top and an angel-like ornament at the bottom (one of the amulets features an additional pair of angels, flanking the flame). Two mounted of the amulets are set leather bases covered with red velvet, with suspension rings.
4-5. Two silver-sheet amulets of similar design: heart-shaped, with the word "Shaddai" at the center and a flame-like ornament at top.
6. Cast silver amulet in architectural design, engraved with the text of the Priestly Blessing ("Birkat Kohanim").
Size Varies, 8X4 to 18X11.5 cm. Overall good condition. Minor dents and breaks to sheet-silver amulets.
Category
Mezuzah Cases and Amulets
Catalogue Value
![Two gold amulets:
1. Amulet-Pendant. [Iraq, early decades of the 20th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; g](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/109_1.jpg "Two Gold Amulets – Iraq / the Near East")
![Two gold amulets:
1. Amulet-Pendant. [Iraq, early decades of the 20th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; g](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/109_2.jpg "Two Gold Amulets – Iraq / the Near East")
Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Opening: $800
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Two gold amulets:
1. Amulet-Pendant. [Iraq, early decades of the 20th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; glass; gold; turquoise stones.
Round gold amulet, containing a round parchment slip inscribed with initial letters of the Ana Bekoach piyyut and various names for protection, set beneath glass. Gold frame is set with turquoise stones. A pin affixed to the reverse for attaching to clothing.
Diameter: 3.5 cm. One turquoise stone lacking.
2. Amulet. [Iraq or Kurdistan, ca. mid-20th century].
Gold, engraved.
Round gold amulet, engraved with initial letters of the Ana Bekoach piyyut, names of angels, a Star of David enclosing the word “Zion”, and the owner's name: "Rachima bat Nazdari".
Diameter: 5.2 cm. Suspension loop.
Category
Mezuzah Cases and Amulets
Catalogue Value
![Five amulets. [Near East, Iran / Kurdistan and vicinity, late 19th to early 20th century].
Silver, cut, soldered, repo](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/110_1.jpg "Five Silver Amulets – Near East")
![Five amulets. [Near East, Iran / Kurdistan and vicinity, late 19th to early 20th century].
Silver, cut, soldered, repo](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/110_2.jpg "Five Silver Amulets – Near East")
Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica
Sep 1, 2025
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,250
Including buyer's premium
Five amulets. [Near East, Iran / Kurdistan and vicinity, late 19th to early 20th century].
Silver, cut, soldered, repoussé and engraved; glass; silver coins; tin bead.
1. Large amulet in the form of a three-dimensional rectangular frame with clipped corners, featuring a depiction of a LeMenatze'ach menorah and the verse “Shiviti Hashem lenegdi tamid” inscribed on parchment or paper, decorated in color. Russian silver coins from the 1860s suspended from the bottom of the amulet.
2. Hexagonal amulet case, inscribed (see Hebrew description).
3. Double-sided amulet, in the form of a large round pendant; one side inscribed with protective verses and attributes, the other with a personal dedication.
4. Small amulet in the form of a rectangular pendant, inscribed with the “Priestly Blessing” and the name “Moshe ben Chaim” (possibly of North African origin).
5. Woman’s arm amulet, inscribed with various verses and an animal-like motif, dated (?): 5612 [1852]. Includes a cotton thread and red-painted metal bead.
Size and condition vary. Overall good condition.
Category
Mezuzah Cases and Amulets
Catalogue Value