Obj. ID: 37190
Sacred and Ritual Objects Torah finials, Tunis, 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.
These large Rimmonim were made in Tunisia but designed after Italian antecedents. This tower form is reminiscent of Rimmonim types from Livorno. Italian style was very dominant in North Africa and is the primary influence in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, in particular from the last half of the 19th century onwards. The connection between Jewish communities in North Africa and Italy was strong, both culturally and commercially, particularly with Livorno where an expatriate community from North Africa resided and conducted commerce with the brethren on the African continent. Italians from Livorno resided in Tunis as well. The hexagonal tower is made up of six flat panels that are hand-sawn in fine detail. The base is stamped with marks that appear to be from around 1900.
Inscription: Dedicated for the rest of the soul of the dear Matzoud Arbib, the son of the honorable Mordechai, may his soul be bound up in the bond of life
sub-set tree:
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments | Floral motif
B | Bell
A | Arch | Horseshoe arches
V | Vase
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