Plaque decorated with micrography and engravings, produced by Yosef Eibeshitz. Germany, after 1838 [ca. 1850].

Ink, paint and engraving on paper.

Large rectangular plaque for hanging on the wall. Includes an assortment of verses and texts evidencing its diverse uses, as a Mizrach, for the Counting of the Omer, and for yahrzeits, dates of births and other important dates.

Decorated with micrography (including the Counting of the Omer), with colorful dots, illustrations of the Tablets of the Law, a Torah scroll, a crown and a pair of trees. The top part incorporates mounted engraved frames – a pair of birds and a rectangular frame.

At the top of the plaque is a prayer for the welfare of the government (HaNoten Teshuah LaMelachim), mentioning "King Ernst August the first" (apparently Ernest Augustus I, king of Hannover 1837-1851). The plaque likewise includes the names of the individuals for whom it was made – Yeshayah and his wife Peska, with the date of their wedding in 1831, the names of their children, dates of birth and death between 1798-1838, and more.

At the bottom edge is the signature of the artist, slightly blurred, in German (to the right): "Bearbeitet durch Y.J. Eibschütz, Urenkel des berühmten [?] Rabbiners zu Hamburg" ["Made by Y. Y. Eibeshitz, great-grandson of the famous (?) rabbi of Hamburg"]; and in Hebrew (to the left): "Made by the writer Yosef son of R. Yehonatan ---". A similar plaque is kept in the collection of the Jewish Museum, Amsterdam (M009052), signed by the same artist, with a clearer Hebrew signature (see also item M001447 there).

45.5X55.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, moisture damage, tears and wear, affecting text and decorations, professionally restored. Pieces missing, professionally restored. Matted.