19th Century Libyan Wooden Torah Finials

Rare Alsace carved wooden Torah Pointer (YAD), 18th century. The body of the pointer is engraved in its first part with a decoration of palmettes and stripes. It then continues with...

Handmade silver Torah finials, chased, pierced, engraved, and cast, France, circa 1860. The finials are constructed with large open-work decorated ball ...

An Intricate Jerusalem Textile, made in Jerusalem, 1886. Double-sided large pouch. Wool thread embroidered on cotton net. One side has a lion and stag holding flags reading “Jerusalem” in Hebrew, which flank a crowned Ten Commandments. Titled in Hebrew “Swift as a deer, strong as a lion” (Ethics of the Fathers 5:20). “Jerusalem” is seen in large lettering, atop a pair of birds and flowers. Top scene of the reverse side is titled “Mount of Olives”, amongst a plethora of olive trees, and a cluster of buildings is titled “Chulda the Prophetess”, (where her and others tombs reside). Main scene is titled “The Western Wall”, which features the wall and outer structures with turrets and Cyprus trees. The Hebrew date of “1886” is revealed on the bottom corners. This delicate textile, incredibly vibrant in color after 130 years of being created, is a masterful, exceedingly rare work of art produced in Jerusalem by an unknown woman --- likely quite young, a teenager --- as a gift to an unknown individual. Too complex to be a “tourist trinket”, as we know of one other similarly-made textile that is in the collection of the Israel Museum, and is dated 1876: see the book “Jewish Folk Art: From Biblical Days to Modern Times”, page 122. A clue to where perhaps this was made is in the depiction of the lion and stag holding flags, as they are identical to those featured on the crest of Moses Montefiore. In the 19th century, Montefiore gave enormous sums of money to purchase land for Jewish settlements and establish schools in Palestine. This textile most likely hailed from a school for girls funded by Montefiore, and was made as either a gift for Montefiore himself, or another wealthy donor. As to the actual purpose of this textile, since it is in the form of a large pouch, its intended purpose might have been to hold a tallit (prayer...

Brass Hanukkah Lamp, Salonika, Greece, 19th century. Openwork backplate with scrolled branches; three stylized flowers support central triangular c...

Antique early 19th century English crimping or goffering iron, Circa 1840. Used to make ruffles, frills, flounces, and pleats in starched linen, the crimpling iron was first introduced in Italy in the early 17th century. Very popular from the Elizabethan era...

This is a very good quality antique Vesta case, all handmade from various hardwoods and having well detailed shell inlay, dating to the 19th Century, Circa 1880. The case is all han...

Classic Finnish 1970s jewelry by acclaimed Finnish designer Kaija Aarikka (1929-2014). Lacquered wooden beads set in two circles with additional hanging ...

A Collection of 24 Riding Spurs on a Wooden Rack A great collection of 24 antique riding spurs mounted on a wooden ebonized rack with turned feet. Germ...