Torah Shield – Poland, Possibly Lublin, 19th Century

Torah shield. Poland, [possibly Lublin, middle of 19th century or somewhat earlier].

Silver, cast and engraved (marked with maker’s mark, J. / L. Frydman, silversmith, and with fineness mark, 14); filigree; gilt.

Slightly convex Torah shield consisting of a silver plate to which various ornaments – either cast or filigree – are attached with rivets and screws. These include: A large crown-shaped ornament protruding forward at the top of the shield; a pair of architectonic columns each surmounted by a combination of a rampant deer and a large bird perched atop a tree limb, flanking the crown on either side; beneath the crown, an ornament in the form of the Two Tablets of the Law, engraved with the abbreviated Ten Commandments; an ornament representing a Torah ark, with its door opening to reveal a tiny Torah scroll inside; another pair of large birds each perched atop a tree limb (in this case with flowers), in turn surmounting another pair of rampant deer, just above the bottom of the shield. At bottom center is an oval-shaped medallion bearing a depiction of a leviathan-like monster (seemingly half-whale, half-serpent) with its tail in its mouth. Beneath the two columns are decorated rectangular labels bearing the (Hebrew) inscriptions "Yakhin" (misspelled) and "Boaz". Three heart-shaped pendants are suspended from the bottom edge of the shield, each engraved with a name, together comprising the Hebrew inscription "Yitzhak son of Shaul".

Height: 23 cm. Width: 16 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Minor warping and slight fissures. Fracture to one of the crown’s arches. Old soldering repairs on back. Missing nuts and bolts. Missing chain.

For comparison, see: Rafi Grafman, Crowning Glory: Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, 1996, nos. 189-92, 200, 203; Collection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, item 148/163, B50.02.0383.

Provenance: Kedem, Auction 39, July 16, 2014, Lot 68.