Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Pair of Large Torah Finials – Lisbon, Portugal – Ben-Zaken Family
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Pair of Torah finials. Lisbon, Portugal, 1938 or later.
Silver, turned, repoussé, stamped, and engraved (marked with quality marks from Lisbon, in use beginning January 1938).
Pair of Torah finials, large and massive, with hexagonal bodies tapering upward, adorned with rich vegetal patterns. Each finial surmounted by a dome-like ornament, in turn surmounted by a slender cast ornament modeled after a vegetal subject. The base of each body is a round, cup-like component. Supported on cylindrical shafts, tapering upward. Each in turn supported on a circular base, widening outward. Dedicatory inscription (Hebrew) engraved on both shafts: "To the eternal memory of … his honor Rabbi Moshe ben Zaken ... / from his widow … Luna …".
Chains with large bells at their ends are suspended from each finial.
Height: 35-36 cm. Width: 12 cm. Overall good condition. One shaft shorter than the other. Minor warping and fractures. One missing chain and bell.
Torah Ornaments – Torah Crowns, Torah Finials, Torah Shields
Torah Ornaments – Torah Crowns, Torah Finials, Torah Shields