Large Torah Crown – Austria-Hungary, Ca. 1900

Large Torah crown. Austria-Hungary, possibly Bratislava (Pressburg, today capital of Slovakia) or Vienna, [late 19th or early 20th century].

Silver, cut, repoussé, punched, and stamped (marked with Austro-Hungarian fineness marks in use from 1886 to 1922; arches marked with maker’s mark SB; base also marked "Bernauer S."); gilt.

Unusually large Torah crown, with eight arches and a fancy dome on top, all bearing vegetal patterns. Broad oval-shaped base, equipped at center with a pair of tall, broad dedicated cylinders to be fitted over the wooden handles of the Torah scroll. On the perimeter surface of the base are a dozen delicate flower-shaped ornaments with rectangular frames at their centers, which had previously housed glass beads (now missing).

Height: 35 cm. Maximal width: 39X34 cm. Overall good condition. Minor warping. Glass beads missing. Bells missing from each of the 8 arches. Small flower-shaped ornament missing from base. Apparently also missing ornament at top or bell at center.