Obj. ID: 627
Sacred and Ritual Torah shield, Galicia, 1910
The silver cartouche-shaped Torah shield consists of a plate. It is decorated symmetrically with the central axis. In its center it depicts a bird standing on a basket of fruit and leaves, picking the fruit. Above and below the birds are inscribed two names in square-filled letters:
ר'(רבי) דוד צבי
ר' חיים משה
Translation: Rabbi David Zvi, Rabbi Haim Moses
The picking bird is flanked by columns on which sit griffins facing each other and support with one leg a crown that surmounts the bird. The crown is surmounted by a mask depicted on a palmette leaf that topped the shield. A frame of rokeis pattern descends from the mask and surrounds the columns. The lower part of the shield is composed of foliate scrolls intertwined with hares and birds.
On the back side of the Torah shield is a dedicatory inscription inscribed in square filled letters:
מרים ריקעל אשת ר' חיים משה
אשכנזי נפטרה כ"ו חשוון תע"ר
Translation: Miriam Rikel the wife of Rabbi Haim Moses Ashkenazi, passed away on 26th of Heshvan, (5)670 (7.11.1910)"
Two loops are attached to the back side of the shield.
sub-set tree: 
B | Basket | Basket with fruits
H | Heraldic composition | Supporters | Two griffins
C | Columns
C | Crown
M | Mask
B | Bird | Bird pecking fruits
O | Ornamentation: | Inhabited scrolls
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