Pair of finials for Torah scroll. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 18th century.
Silver (marked, on one handle only; blurred marks), repouss? and engraved.
Six bells suspended from curving twigs. On the top edge of each pomegranate-shaped finial is a crown surmounted by a bud-shaped ornament. Engraved on one handle is a Hebrew dedication reading: "Gift of Eli Bar Pinhas HaCohen".
Dutch design called "Tilrimoniem" (Dutch for "lifting finials"), contrasting with the massive, heavy Dutch "tower" finials. These finials, which are airy and light, were used by the Portuguese Jewish communities in Holland specifically when raising the Torah scroll, prior to reading from the Torah. According to Rafi Grafman, these finials were first created to accompany the large "tower" finials; when a commission was made for "tower" finials, a pair of "raising finials" was also prepared.
Height: 26.5 cm. Some breaks and soldering repairs. Some of the screwed-on pieces are soldered. Some of the bells are not original. One of the handles may not be original.
See:
1. "The Stieglitz Collection: Masterpieces of Jewish Art", Chaya Benjamin (The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1987), item 12.
2. "50 Rimonim: A Selection of Torah Finials from a European Family Collection", catalogue of exhibition at Tel Aviv University (The Judaica Museum, The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center, 1998), item 42.Â