Obj. ID: 39328
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Book Binding, Vienna, circa 1840

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The bindings of Jewish books are generally quite simple, but there does exist a tradition, probably among the wealthier section of the population, of binding books in special and elegant ways utilizing a variety of material.

One of the most unusual book bindings to come from Vienna, this example has delicately-embroidered pictures on each side, under glass. On the top is an embroidered Torah Ark and part of the interior of a synagogue, probably representing the first Vienna synagogue which was dedicated in 1826. On the other side is a composite picture, very similar to that which would have been done on a Christian prayer book, including a chalice and beads. Embroidered as well is a religious poem in German. This is a very typical example of the forms used in the Biedermeier period in Vienna. The book contained in this binding is a Hebrew-German-language prayer book, probably intended for women.