OBJ | Torah shield, Holy Roman Empire, Nuremberg, 1763, 1826, Jewish Museum In Prague (SZM 44 438)
|
Category: Ritual object |
|
Subject
Coat of Arms
Ornamentation
Not relevant
Custom
Not relevant
Material & Technique
Silver, gilded
Structure: hammered, cut
Decoration: chased, cast, engraved
Bonding: soldered, screwed
Inscription: engraved
Measurements
Height: 350 mm
Width: 290 mm
Hallmark
There are three Hallmarks on the object:
1.
An Authority: city.
2.
Artist/ workshop.
3.
An Authority: tax.
Fig. 1. The lambs above the columns, Torah shield, Nuremberg, 1763.
Decoration Program
A sacred façade formed by two columns and adorned by a crown.
Description
The arched-shaped Torah shield comprises a plate, movable plaques, and three medallions.
On both sides of the plate are two twisted columns supported by round bases, carrying lambs (fig. 1). A central rectangular frame encloses indicatory plaques. A protruding crown is set on top, over an inscribed cartouche with a Hebrew dedicatory inscription. The inscription continues on the three medallions, suspended from the plate:
"לעמיל/ ב"ה (בן הרב) זעליגמן/ ז"ל (זכרו לברכה) מטושקו/ וזוגתו/ מ' (מרת) רבקה תי' (שתחיה)/ מפראג // בשנת תקכ"ג/ נעשה/ לפ"ק"
"Lämel (a lamb in Yiddish), son of Rabbi Zeligmann, of blessed memory, from Toschco and his wife Mrs. Rebecca, may she live, from Prague. (It was) done in the year (5)523 (1763)"
On the round bases are two additional inscriptions, added later with the columns, revealing the story of the object and the family (fig. 2):
"אלה הם כלי הקודש אשר נדבה רוח/ אבותי ז"ל (זכרם לברכה) לעשותם ואשר התחדשו/ על ידי בנם הנקרא מלפנים זעלקע/ טושקו ועל ידי חסד אדונינו/ הקיסר פראנץ הראשון נקראתי/ בשם עדלאר פאן לעמל/ תקפ"ו לפ"ק //
גם בזאת הטה אדונינו/ הקיסר יר"ה (ירום הודו) חסדו וטובו/ עלי ועל זרעי אחרי ליתן לנו/ רשות לפתח פתוחי וחותם כאחד/ השרים ונגידי ארץ כדמות/ אשר לפניך: שנת וכל מעשה תקפ"ו (אסתר י:ב) / לפ"ק"
“These are the sacred implements that have been donated by my ancestors, of blessed memory. And (the objects) were renovated by their son, who was formerly called Zelke Toschco, and by the mercy of our Lord, the Emperor Franz 1st , who gave me the title of the noble man of Lämel (Edler von Lämel) the year (5)586 (1826).
And our Lord the Emperor honoured me and my offspring, allowing me to have an engraved armorial device, as one of the honourable noblemen in the form of (the device) before you. In the year 'And all the acts' (of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordechai, whereunto the king advanced him… Esth. 8:2; (5)586 (1826)."
Fig 2. Added dedicatory inscription of 1828 | Fig 3. The emblem of Edler von Lämel |
The family emblem is engraved on the bottom of each
inscription, depicting a rectangular shield divided into two registers,
enclosing an eagle over a lamb. A crest of a two winged helmet is set
over the shield, enclosing a star.
History/Provenance
According to the Museum card, the shield was in use in the Maisels synagogue in Prague (fig 4). It reached the Jewish Museum of Prague during WWII and was recorded then by Dr. K. and Dr. E.
Fig 4. The Maisels synagogue, Prague
Condition
Intact.
Remarks
Zelke (known as Simon; 1776 - 1845) who renovated the shield and re-donated it to the synagogue was born in Toschco, a town in Bohemia, under Austrian rule. As customary at the time, he was named Toschco, after his place of origin. Toschco was a wool merchant dealing with the wool industry in Bohemia and Austria. During the war against Napoleon Bonaparte (December 1805), he assisted the Austrian Royal Treasury and contributed money to fund the war. In gratitude for his act, he was honored by the Emperor and was awarded the title of nobility: Edler von Lämel (in German), and which permitted him to possess a family coat of arms, as stated in the dedicatory inscription. The title Lämel refers to his father's name, who probably was also dealing with wool. |
|
Fig 5. Façade of the Lämel School, Jerusalem |
Fig 6. Edler von Lämel Schule | Fig 7. The Lämel's clock with Hebrew letters |
The school was the first to teach different subjects in Hebrew and was considered by the Ashkenazi highly orthodox community in Jerusalem as a school of the Enlightenment movement. Thus, they opposed any of its activities and acted against it. However, the school gained the support of the Sephardi community in Jerusalem and till the 1880's, Ladino (Judeo Spanish) was considered its first language. During the British Mandate, the school became a public school and today it is a Talmud Torah, used by the Orthodox Jewish population.
Bibliography
- Friedlander, Mordechai, Zvi. Shir Mizmor Li'chvod ha-keisar (a hymn for the Emperor Franz Song). Vienna: Friedrich Forester, 1860. In Hebrew.
- Kroyanker, David. Jerusalem Architecture – Periods and Styles, Jewish Neighborhoods and Public Buildings Outside the City Walls. Israel: Keter Publishing House, 1991. In Hebrew.
Type: | Original | |
Photographer: | Date: | Negative no.: |
Zev Radovan | 4.1994 | 727-13,35,36 |
Copyright |
||
Object: | Photograph: | |
Jewish Museum In Prague | CJA | |
Registrar |
||
Function: | Name: | Date: |
Documenter | Michael Tal | 03. 93 |
Researcher | Ariella Amar | 06. 97 |
Section Head | Ariella Amar, Bezalel Narkiss | 06. 07 |
Editor | Judith Cardozo | 07.07 |
IJA No.: | Not relevant |