A Highly Unusual Pair of Silver Torah Finials. Izmir and Montevideo, 20th C. Height: 44 cm.

An exceptionally tall and unusual pair of Torah finials, apparently made in Izmir, Turkey, at the beginning of the 20th C. The finials found their way in the interesting Jewish community of Montevideo, Uruguay, as attested by an engraved dedicatory inscription on their staves:
"A gift to the Holy Community for the eternal rest of Rivka bat Asher and Kadin Tzuriano Montevideo, 14 Av 1929".
The Jewish community of Izmir (Smyrna), located on the Aegean Coast of Turkey, was one of the largest and most prosperous of the Ottoman Empire.
In the beginning of the 20th C the Ottoman Empire began to collapse. War broke out between Turkey and Greece, and the city of Izmir was destroyed. This was a significant catalyst for a mass exodus of Jews from Izmir and all of Turkey. Most of emigrated to Greece, Argentina, France, and the United States, and a few probably came to Montevideo - the capital of Uruguay.
The first Jews to come to Uruguay were Marranos who arrived in the 16th century, and secretly established a community in Montevideo. In 1925 the number of Jews living in the city of Montevideo was 6,000.
The Tzuriano family is a known, important, and extensive Jewish family from the city of Izmir.
The finials are comprised of two levels, embellished with foliate designs and large, beautiful floral vases. They are topped by pomegranate-shaped knobs with silver leaves. The largest portion of the finals are their staves, which are long and narrow, and embellished with engraved ornamental designs.
An interesting and special item. An unusual and rare design.