Obj. ID: 37162
Sacred and Ritual Objects Torah finials, San'a, circa 1900
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.
A most unusual and outstanding pair of Rimmonim from Yemen in silver and white metal. The basic central structure is the typical Yemenite shape which is normally found in cast brass, as in two examples in the Gross Family Collection. Here this central element is cast metal, bringing the weight of the pair to 1 kilo 200 grams, most unusually heavy for Rimmonim in silver from this area. The upper, middle and lower elements on this central shaft are decorated with work in the niello technique. Additionally, there are two canopy-like structures around the central shaft done in repousse, from which are hanging bells, filigree beads, and Ottoman coins. In addition to the lower set of bells, there are hung Ottoman coins.
The Rimmonim were originally in a synagogue in Sa'ana and then brought to Israel with the mass Aliyah. Here they were dedicated to a local synagogue where they were in use for decades. After the synagogue was no longer actively using them, a very old woman, the representative of the family who brought them and lent them to the synagogue, agreed to sell them.
sub-set tree:
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
F | Fish
B | Branch
B | Bell
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