Obj. ID: 3479
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Torah case, Tunisia, mid-18th century

The prismatic Torah case consists of a body and a coronet.

The case opens in the centre on the front facet, forming two halves joined in the back by a steady facet.

The body comprises twelve facets and is encircled, at its upper and lower edges by two wooden stepped strips, creating two friezes. The outer strips are wider than the inner ones.  

Each facet is decorated with a vertical pattern composed of two multifoil arches, set on top and bottom, interlaced with a central medallion. The arches and medallion create three circumferential bands, divided by a band of flowers. The medallion encloses a large open flower whereas the arches enfold a lily like vase, holding a symmetrical stem with three flowers on either side, alluding to the Ottoman Four Flower motif.  The patterns are painted in red, green, yellow and blue, against an orange background.

A small rectangular parchment attached to the right front facet, is inscribed with a dedication in square Hebrew letters, which reads:

   "ממי'(ממני)/ דראוס/ אהרון צגרון."

"(Dedicated) by me/ Dara'us / Aaron Zigron (Zigdon; see: Remarks: no. 1)."

The crenellated coronet is composed of twelve units, which continue the body's facets (figs. 1, 2). Each unit encloses a central foliate stem, which carries a carved lily topped by a lotus. The upper edges of the lotus create undulating edges.

The inner face of the Torah case is plain wood painted in red. Each half has a double shelf at its bottom and a single one, on top.

Two holes for inserting the Torah staves appear at the bottom and top.