Obj. ID: 19604
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Torah case, Libya, 1889

The ten-faceted wooden Torah^case consists of a body and a coronet. Faceted annulets encircle the upper and lower borders of the body. Ivory knobs for hanging the Torah case wrapper encircle the upper border. The facet on each sides of the case's opening bears an arch-shaped silver plaque. The plaque is decorated with a foliate pattern. A dedicatory inscription engraved in linear letters appears on both the right plaque and left plaque, and reads: זאת התורה ברה/ ונקייה אשר פעל/ ועשה הייקר ה!ר/ יוסף אגרבי היו/ למנוחת בתו/ הבתולה יקותא/ נע)נוחה עדן( נגמרה מלאכתו/ ביום ערב שבועות/ שנת תרמ!ט לפ!ק !This is the Torah clear/ and clean that was made/ and done by the dear Rabbi/ Joseph Agrebi(?)/ for the repose of his daughter/ the virgin Yakuta/ may she rest in Eden, finished the eve of Shavuot/ the year 5649.! A silver circular, spiny base for the clasp is attached under each plaque. Two pairs of hinges are in the back of the case. The inner face is plain wood. The hollow bottom has arched hand holders. The hollow top is decorated with an openwork pattern of diamonds and circles. Two insert holes for the staves are at top of the case. The coronet is ten-faceted. Each facet, decorated with an openwork fleur-de-lis pattern terminates with a lily motif.