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Img. ID: 4852

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 7.1992

The double tiered Torah crown consists of a main section and a crest, each composed of a base and arms. The coronet-like base is composed of a round band decorated with flowers and scrolls on the edges. The band is decorated with alternating cartouches and pairs of the Tables of the Covenant. Each is inscribed with a dedicatory inscription written in square filled letters: נדבת##ר' מנחם##מענדיל##בר')בן רבי(##משה יהודא##ומר' משה##בר')בן רבי( דוב## ליכטינשטין##להחברה##משניות##דבהמ"ד)דבית המדרש(##דליטא##שדה-לבן##תרס"ט לפק "Donation of Rabbi Menahem Mendel son of Rabbi Moses Judah and Mr. Moses son of Rabbi Dov Lichtenstein to the Society for the Study of Mishnah of the Lithuanian Beit Midrash in Bila Tserkva, the year (5)689(1909)." Each cartouche is supported by a pair of rampant, regardant griffins. Each of the Tables of the Covenant is supported by a pair of rampant, regardant lions. Four medallions are interspersed between the cartouches and Tables of the Covenant. The medallions depict, counter clock-wise, Noah's Ark as a boat-house on the water, a fish a bull and a ram. Six tapering concave arms radiate from the base converging at the convex unit which surmounts them. The lower part of each arm is decorated with C scroll medallions which contain depictions of: Noah's ark as a boat house, an elephant, blank Tables of the Covenant, a swan , a fish and a bull. The medallions are surrounded by scrolls and acanthus leaves which extend up the arm. At the top of each arm protrudes a rampant lion whose front legs support the crest. A flower hangs from the crest between each arm. The crest is a spherical crown comprising a round band decorated with diamonds and beads, surmounted by arms in the shape of acanthus leaves. The arms are capped by a floral disk which is surmounted by a hemispherical apex.

Name/Title
Torah crown of the Mishna Society in the Lithuanian Beit Midrash in Bila Tserkva | Unknown
Object
Object Detail
Settings
Unknown
Date
1909
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Gilded? Silver
Material Stucture
Cut, Hammered, Raised
Material Decoration
Repousse, Punched, Cast, Engraved
Material Bonding
Screwed
Material Inscription
Engraved
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
415 mm
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
195 mm
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Subject
S | Swan
| Swan
Condition
The Torah crown has no holes to attach it to the Torah scroll.
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Two hallmarks are stamped on each part of the crown.
1: Authority
2: Artist
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program

The Torah crown is surrounded by medallions bearing scenes of the Flood, Tables of the Covenant, lions, griffins and floral motifs.

Summary and Remarks

According to the artist's hallmark the Torah crown is dated to the end of the 19th century. The same hallmark appears together with an assay hallmark from Odessa, active in 1883, on other objects from this region, See:IJA 10139. The city hallmark notes a later date, probably a remark hallmark by an assay who was active in Yekaterinoslave. 
Similar iconography can be found on two pairs of Torah finials from Odessa from approximately the same period, (244918.doc, 774621.doc). Animal motifs without the Ark also appear on a spice box 921927.doc.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
According to the hallmarks and dedicatory inscription, the Torah crown was made at the end of the 19th century in Odessa. At the beginning of the 20th century it was probably in Yekaterinoslav and later on, around 1909, it was in Belaia Tserkov'.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
Cf. Wien, Kunsthis. Mus., Thora (Ukraine), p.104, no.19.
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Ariella Amar | 1.7.1992
Author of description
Irina Chernetsky | 6.1995
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
Ariella Amar | 5.1999
Language Editor
|
Donor
UNESCO |
Negative/Photo. No.