Antique Judaica Silver Torah Crown, Lions & Star of David, 18″H

PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Ca. 1901–1911 CE. Eastern Europe or Ottoman Jewish communities, late 19th–early 20th century. A substantial and beautifully crafted silver Torah crown, formed of two openwork tiers surmounted by a Magen David finial upheld by a pair of confronting lions — a heraldic motif emblematic of the Tribe of Judah. The domed upper register is worked with repoussé floral panels framed by scalloped arches, each hung with a small bell, evoking the bells of the High Priest’s robe in biblical tradition. The lower tier mirrors this decorative program, its elaborately chased floral cartouches and pierced arches lending a sense of lightness despite the crown’s impressive mass. Measuring 12.5″ W x 18″ H (31.8 x 45.7 cm) and weighing 6 pounds (96 oz; 2,985.6 g), the crown is silver of approximately 92–93% fineness. Size: 12.5″ W x 18″ H (31.8 cm W x 45.7 cm H).

The crown is further embellished with finely beaded edging and a donor inscription engraved around the base, typical of synagogue presentation pieces offered in honor or memory of community members. Its architectural form, repoussé ornamentation, and symbolic lion-and-star finial reflect stylistic traditions found in both Eastern European Jewish silversmithing and the broader Jewish communities of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A commanding and ceremonially significant object, displaying excellent craftsmanship and a notably heavy silver weight.

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired between 1995-2005

Condition: Wear, surface scratches, and patination consistent with age and ritual use; minor dents and imperfections to the bells and openwork sections; overall very good condition for a liturgical silver ornament of this size and period.