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Obj. ID: 37669
Sacred and Ritual Objects
  Matzah cover, Israel/Eretz Israel, circa 1920

© Gross Family Collection, Photographer: Bar Hama, Ardon, -

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Matzah is the unleavened bread that Jews eat during the eight days of the Passover Holiday. The leader of the ceremony of Passover Eve conducts the ritual using different symbols of the Holiday, including three pieces of Matzah. Special holders were made to keep these three pieces in three separate compartments. Such Matzah holders were often made from textiles and embroidered to beautifully grace the Passover table. They were often made by the woman of the house.

A rare phenomenon in such Matzah covers is the use of fish scales in embroidery. This Matzah cover shows the use of this material in the two fish represented in the upper half of the object. There is another such Matzah cover in the collection of the Israel Museum. There are depicted two goats as well, made from narrow pieces of silk sewn to the ground of purple silk. Around the circumference of the round Matzah cover is an inscription executed in the gold metal thread containing the blessing over the Matzah and the name of the holy city of Jerusalem. Surrounding that inscription on the edge is a garland of flowers. The textile was made to contain the three pieces of Matzah ritually necessary for the Seder.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

1 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
Matzah cover | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
circa 1920
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Embroidered in different techniques and materials on silk satin ground. Polychrome silk thread embroidery in stem stitch and flat stitch. Inscription done in gold tinsel raised embroidery on coarse thread foundation. Animals in silk thread flat stitch and knotted stitch embroidery on carton foundation with glass bead. The fish are embroidered with gold thread spiraled around cotton thread and sewn fish scales. Linen lining.
Material Stucture
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Material Lining
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Measurements
Diameter: 44 cm
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Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
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Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
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Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
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Colophon
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Computer Reconstruction
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |