Small Torah Shield – Probably Johann Jakob Runnecke – Fürth, Germany, Late 18th Century

Torah shield. Fürth, Germany, late 18th century. Dedicatory inscription dated 5559 [1799].

Silver, cast, stamped, repoussé, and engraved (marked with lunar-crescent shape, municipal mark of Fürth, Germany, 18th century; year mark A; and faded maker’s mark, probably the initials IR and above them a four-dot marking, for Johann Jakob Runnecke/Runecke, silversmith.

Small Torah shield, in a model typical of such objects originating from neighboring Nuremberg, Germany. At the top is a large crown-shaped ornament protruding forward. In the middle, on either side, also protruding forward, are a pair of spiraling architectonic columns each surmounted by a rampant lion and supported on a large square pedestal. At top center, beneath the crown and between the columns, are the Two Tablets of the Law, blank and unengraved. Above the Tablets is a cloth-ribbon-like ornament, and beneath them, a rectangular compartment for interchangeable plaques (no plaques included). The compartment is enclosed within a rectangular frame decorated in a vegetal pattern.

Just above the bottom margin is a medallion engraved with an inscription (Deuteronomy 4:44) revealing the year the shield was created: "And this / is the Torah [Law] which Moses set… [in Hebrew, the numerological equivalent of Hebrew year 5559 = 1799]". A dedicatory inscription is engraved upon the pedestal of the column on the left: "Honored the Lord / [by bestowing] from his wealth a shield / of silver on the Festival / of Shavu’ot". Three bells are suspended by rings from the bottom edge of the shield. Suspension chain.

Later inscription engraved on verso: "Michel Oppenheim / Regierungsrat a. D. / der jüdishen Gemeinde [-----] / zum 10.9.1947", possibly from Mainz.

Although the maker’s mark is faded, this Torah shield appears to be the work of the silversmith Johann Jakob Runnecke, documented in the past by Marc Rosenberg (Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Frankfurt A.M.: Frankfurter Verlags, 1922) and other sources, where Runnecke is referred to as "J. Rimonim". This craftsman, whose Berliner father was also a silversmith, was active in Fürth and produced quite a few articles of Judaica in the late 18th century, including Hanukkah lamps, Torah shields and Torah finials, Kiddush cups, and at least one magnificent Sabbath lamp (formerly part of the Sassoon Family Collection). For another one of his Torah shields, see: Rafi Grafman, Crowning Glory: Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, 1996, no. 32.

Height: 18.5 cm. Width: 15.5 cm. Overall good condition. Bell missing from crown-shaped ornament at top. One bell not original. Minor warping. Ring (for chain) missing from upper edge. Interchangeable plaques missing.