Bidspirit auction | Enormous Illustrated Amulet. A Magnificent

Enormous Illustrated Amulet. A Magnificent Work of Art Constantinople, 1849 * A museum-level artistic creation of the highest caliber. Exceptionally rare — almost no amulets of such large format are known. It was written especially for Rabbi Moshe Frishko, the chief rabbi of Constantinople, by Rabbi Shmuel Algazi. In addition to its function as an amulet for protection against the evil eye and safeguarding from all misfortune, this amulet also served as a decorative Mizrach in the Jewish home, and in the case here, it appears to have been used as a sukkah decoration as well, for its borders contain a decorated circle depicting the seven Ushpizin. At the bottom are two illustrations within leafy frames, associated with Pesach and Sukkos. The entire composition is surrounded by numerous kabbalistic texts containing holy names and names of angels. Along the lower margin is inscribed: “A work of art by the humble servant, the teacher and rabbi, our master Rabbi Shmuel Algazi; made for our master and rabbi, the crown of glory to our head, the esteemed Rabbi Moshe Frishko, may he live long upon his kingdom, he and his sons among the Jewish people.” Rabbi Moshe Frishko, in whose honor this amulet was written, was one of the great sages of Constantinople in his generation. He first served as a dayan and later as the city’s chief rabbi. His halachic rulings and teshuvos were printed in the sefarim of the scholars of his era. He passed away in 1867 (see: Pinkas Beis Din Issur VeHeter be-Kushta, Lod 1999, pp. 82–91). Constantinople, 1849 Size: Height 67 cm; width 41 cm. Condition: Water stains, reinforcements on the reverse, repairs and artistic paper restoration, with almost no loss to text. Provenance: Otzer Yisroel 1989 The amulet apparently passed to another individual, who erased the original name and wrote his own name in its place. --------------------------------- Any inquiries about this lot? We are also available on WhatsApp >>>