Obj. ID: 37400
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Hanukkah lamp, Tel Aviv, 1950

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Chanukah menorah produced by "Pal-Bell", designed by Maurice Ascalon. Eretz Israel, c. 1948. Cut cast brass. Stamped: "Pal-Bell Co. LTD. Made in Eretz Israel". Back panel made of two delicate olive branches. Eight cornets shaped like clay lamps are arranged in a half-moon shape, identical "shamash". In the center stands a heavy jug in the shape of a jug of oil. Maurice Ascalon (1913-2003) - Hungarian born sculptor and industrial designer. Ascalon is considered by many to be the leader of the Israeli movement for artistic design.

The festival of Chanukah is celebrated in the winter period around December and commemorates a Biblical story in which the Jews of the Land of Israel rebel against the Greek occupiers. They reclaim the desecrated Holy Temple in Jerusalem and, miraculously, the small amount of pure oil remaining is enough to keep the Temple light going for eight days. Lamps with eight burners are lit during this holiday, both in the synagogue and at home. Through the centuries, such lamps have taken a wide variety of forms.

This Chanukah lamp, with its distinctive green patina, was manufactured in Israel in 1950 by the firm of Pal-Bel. The design was created by Zeev Raban, probably the most well-known graphic artist and designer in Mandate Palestine. By the time he had designed this lamp, Raban had been working for more than 35 years in the country, having been one of the primary movers of decorative design in the Bezalel School almost from its beginning. This is the Chanukah menorah used in my home when I was growing up in the 1950's. Many decorative items from the 50's, particularly for tourists, were produced in this finish of greenish patina.