Torah shield, made by Jacob Langleben, silversmith. London, 1897.

Silver, cut, stamped, repoussé, and engraved (marked with London marks: year mark "b" = 1897, and maker’s mark "J.L." = Jacob Langleben).

Small Torah shield, tall and slender, bearing vegetal patterns and a pair of tall columns. At top, engraved over a plain surface, is a dedicatory inscription (Hebrew) dated 5658 (1897), marking a silver anniversary:
"...Gift of R. Yishayahu bar Mordechai of blessed memory and his wife / Madam Rivkah bat R. Shlomo on the occasion of / [the] five and twenty year [anniversary] of their marriage / [5658 = 1897]…".

At bottom is a rectangular housing for interchangeable plaques (5 two-sided plaques are enclosed, each bearing the silver marks designated above). The housing has a swinging lid that locks into place and frames the interchangeable plaques with its aperture. Above the housing is a crown-shaped ornament. Three bells dangle from the bottom of the shield, suspended by rings.

A number of items of Judaica created by the silversmith Jacob Langleben are known to be extant. Included among them are another Torah shield (1896); a pair of candlesticks; and a Kiddush cup.

Height: 29 cm. Width: 14.5 cm. Overall good condition. Missing most of the suspension chain.