Torah pointer. Libya, or Gabès, Tunisia, [early 20th century].
Silver (marked, hallmark probably Libyan), cast and engraved.
Flat pointer, with hand clenched, index finger gently flexed, and cuffed wrist. Lower portion of handle broad and flat, sharply tapering toward wrist. Vegetal patterns engraved on one side. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on the other side: "Yosef Goueta...".
Length: 26 cm. Good condition.
Purchased in Gabès, Tunisia.

Torah pointer. Constantine, Algeria, 5665 [1905].
Silver, cast and engraved.
Flat pointer, shaped like stylized tree, in North African, Libyan-Algerian style. Scalloped handle, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription (using customary abbreviations): "Donated with [a generous] heart by the woman Massouda, may she be blessed among women, to honor a Torah scroll / of the Nakash family, Yitzhak Nakash, the 5th of Sivan, Year 5665 [1905]."
Length: 17 cm. Good condition.

Two Torah pointers engraved with inscriptions commemorating members of the Hajaj and Zeitoun families, both prominent rabbinical families from Tunisia. Tunisia, [20th century].
Silver, cast and engraved.
1. Movable upper joint, attached by hinge. Upper portion of handle cylindrical; lower portion flat and rectangular, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Engraved vegetal patterns on one side, and engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on the other: "To the [peaceful] rest of Meiro Hajejaj [sic], may he rest in Eden… the month of Elul." Length: 25 cm. Good condition.
2. Movable upper joint, attached by hinge. Upper portion of handle cylindrical; lower portion flat, wide, in the form of a stylized tree, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Engraved vegetal patterns on one side, and engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription on the other: "To the [peaceful] rest of Miyoto (?) Zeitoun, may he rest in Eden, the 6th of Iyar 5705 [1945], Ya'akov Zeitoun, may he rest in Eden, the 6th of Shevat 5711 [1951]." Length: 26 cm. Good condition.
Purchased in Tunis, Tunisia, November 2005.

Three Torah pointers. Tunisia, [20th century].
Silver, cast and engraved; copper, cast and engraved.
1. Silver (with Tunisian hallmark). Movable upper joint, attached by hinge. Upper portion of handle cylindrical; lower portion flat, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Engraved vegetal patterns on one side, and engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription (using abbreviations) on the other: "Sanctified to the Almighty, to the [peaceful] rest of […] Yosef Hai Eljin, may his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life." Length: 26 cm.
2. [Tafilalt Region]. Upper segment decorated. Upper portion of handle rectangular and lower portion cylindrical. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Hebrew dedicatory inscription (using abbreviations): "Sanctified in honor of the Holy Torah, Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yohai, may his virtue protect us / to the Yeshiva […], gift of Señor David son of Dinon, may the lord protect him and maintain him / and his wife, Señora Rahel…, by the Rabbi, the Emissary… Rabbi Shemuel Ben Hayyim, may the Almighty maintain him and protect him." Length: 24 cm.
3. Upper portion of handle cylindrical and lower portion flat, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with thumb pointing sideways, with long, gently flexed index finger, and with cuffed wrist. Vegetal patterns engraved on wide part of handle, along with dedicatory inscription (Hebrew and French), on both sides. Hebrew: "To the [peaceful] rest of Beiya Touitou, may she rest in Eden, on the Day of the New Month of Elul, Year 5705 [1945], may her soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life." / French: "Beithe Touito Decedee Le 8 Août 1945 à l'Age de 28 Ans" [Beithe Touito, passed away August 1945 at the age of 28]. Above the French dedicatory inscription is a copper plaque bearing the initials of the deceased woman, "BT." Length: 23.5 cm.

Hanukkah lamp. Tunisia (or Algeria), [19th century].
Brass, cast and punched; rivets.
Arched back plate, openwork, featuring eight horseshoe-arch gates, a vase with flowers, vegetal-style "windows," and two encircled stars. Back plate surmounted by additional encircled star, flanked by a pair of large birds on either side. Vegetal openwork side panels, surmounted by an additional pair of birds. Plain surface. Row of elongated rectangular oil fonts with pinched, pointed spouts for wicks. Servant light adorned with four projecting spikes.
According to Mordechai Narkiss (see below), the design of this type of Hanukkah lamp bears the influence of Algerian architecture of the Ottoman period, as well as Algerian Islamic art. Please refer also to next item.
Height: 23 cm. Width: 22 cm. Good condition. Minor soldering repairs.
References: North African Lights, item no. 119; The Hanukkah Lamp, pl. LV, item no. 155; Feuchtwanger Collection, item no. 384.
Purchased in Djerba.