Obj. ID: 37133
Sacred and Ritual Objects Torah finials, Algeria, 1847/48
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
The finials evolved from knobs at the upper end of the staves (Atzei Chaim) on which the Torah scroll is wound. Since the shape of the spherical finial recalled that of a fruit, it was called a tappu'aḥ, "apple," among the Jews of Spain and in the Sephardi Diaspora, and a rimmon, "pomegranate," in all other communities.
The earliest known reference to Torah finials occurs in a document from 1159, found in the Cairo Genizah, from which we learn that by the 12th century finials were already being made of silver and had bells. Around the same time, Maimonides mentions finials in the Mishneh Torah (Hilkhot Sefer Torah 10:4). Despite the variations on the spherical shape which developed over the centuries and the addition of small bells around the main body of the finial, the spherical, fruit-like form was the basic model for the design of finials in Oriental and European communities.
A most significant variation appeared in 15th-century Spain, Italy, and Germany, where the shape of finials was influenced by that of various objects of church ritual, whose design often incorporated architectural motifs, The resulting tower-like structure, which seems to have appeared around the same time in different parts of Europe, became the main type of finial in 18th-century Germany and Italy, as well as Morocco, brought there by Jews expelled from Spain.
Another example of the phenomenon in certain Rimmonim from North Africa where each of the two pieces of a pair were made by different craftsmen, each of whom signed his work. This pair is further distinguished by the fact that the main body is composed of elements made at different times as well. This seems to be the early form of Rimmonim in Algeria, and another early pair is in the Jewish museum in Paris.
Inscription:
Rimmon A: Soul and spirit of the departed, precious Isaac son of Abraham Abbou, Gabbai. Soul and spirit of the departed, precious David son of Eliahu Hadjadj, Gabbai. May by the artisan Shalom Hadjadj, May the Lord protect him. Amram son of Mordechai Carcenti ((5)608 [1847/48]
Rimmon B: Soul and spirit of the departed, precious Shelomo son of Eliahu Seltan, Baggai. The departed, Precious R. Yehuda son of Joseph......, Gabbai, .... Made by the artisan Hayyim Saada, Ma6y the Lord protect him. Moseh... Masoud Levi, Moshe Chiche
sub-set tree:
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
B | Bell
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
B | Buildings
|