Bidspirit auction | Decorated Shiviti Plaque, With Illustration

Decorated Shiviti Plaque, With Illustration of Temple Vessels – Italy, Ca. 1800 – The Durante Family of Ancona - Parchment leaf, Shiviti plaque with illustrations of the Temple vessels, verses, Holy Names and kabbalistic letter permutations. [Italy, probably Ancona, ca. 1800]. Ink and paint on parchment; wooden frame. Small colorful parchment plaque, surrounded with frames featuring verses relating to the Tabernacle and menorah (Tehillim 28:8, Bamidbar 8:4) and the initials of Ana BeKoach. The decorations include three crowns (symbolizing the Crown of Torah, Crown of Priesthood and Crown of Kingship) one on top of another, a seven-branched menorah with the verses of Lamnatzeach, the Ark of the Covenant topped by the Tablets of the Law and cherubs on both sides, the table of showbread, the altar, a vessel for incense, a pair of hands spread out for the priestly blessing and tongs and censers. Holy Names and verses incorporated within decorations in minute handwriting. According to an enclosed leaf (Italian), the present plaque was passed down by the Durante family of Ancona, and was evidently produced at the beginning of the 19th century. For very similar plaques on paper, see Beinecke library, University of Yale, Sholem Asch collection, no. +93:14; Sotheby's, New York, December 17, 2013, lot 117. See also: Sotheby's, New York, December 17, 2020, lot 173; Kedem Auction 101, February 17, 2025, Lot 13. 15.5X10.5 cm. Frame: 21.5X14.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Defects and minor loss of ink and paint. Creases. Remains of pasting to verso. Defects, cracks and holes to frame. The frame is more recent.