Bidspirit auction | Silver Circumcision Tool Kit in

Silver Circumcision Tool Kit in Original Velvet-Lined Chest – Tunisia, 19th Century - Circumcision tool kit. Tunisia, second half of 19th century. Silver, cast, cut, repoussé, and engraved (one implement marked with Tunisian fineness mark, ”Sekka”, in use 1856-1905); steel; wood and leather; velvet fabric in a host of colors; gilt metal-thread embroidery. Complete, elegant set of silver circumcision implements housed in original chest lined with high-quality velvet. Kit includes eight items adorned with matching vegetal patterns: Cup engraved with the (Hebrew) inscription ”Cup of Blessing”; a round, small silver box engraved with the Hebrew initials ”lamed-bet”; a small silver bottle with a stopper in the form of a rooster; scissors; two protectors; a tiny silver tray engraved with the Hebrew initials ”lamed-bet-mem” [for circumcision?]; and a circumcision scalpel. The eight items are housed in an original leather-coated wooden chest. Its interior is lined with a dark purplish-red velvet fabric. There are dedicated niches for each of the implements. The surface of the lid of the chest is adorned in gilt metal-thread embroidery with high stitch density, over velvet fabric in three different colors. The embroidered patterns include vegetal elements and ”hamsot, ” and an arch bearing the (Hebrew) inscription ”Shaddai” (one of the primary names of the Almighty) and an acronym for ”besiman tov” (a traditional Hebrew celebratory greeting wishing good fortune). Chest: 23X25.5X7.5 cm. Overall good condition. Signs of wear to leather coating, especially to edges and corners. Velvet fabric worn and faded. Minor blemishes and tears to embroidery. Few stains. Locking mechanism intact. Circumcision implements in good condition.