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, Emperor Franz I, who gave me the title of the nobleman 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)."
The family emblem of Edler von Lämel 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.
Structure: hammered, cut
Decoration: chased, cast, engraved
Bonding: soldered, screwed
Inscription: engraved
Divis, p.95 #560. 3. The letter N in a round frame, this is the city mark for Nuremberg used 1700-1750. cf.Divis, p.79 #400 .
Friedlander, Mordechai, Zvi. Shir Mizmor Likhvod 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.
Reitzner, Viktor. Alt Wein Lexikon fur Osterr u. Suddeutsches Kunstgewerbe, Wien, 1952.