Obj. ID: 635
Sacred and Ritual Objects Torah shield
The silver (partly gilded) Torah shield is rectangular and terminates with a semicircular arch. It is topped by a crown. The Torah ark is depicted in the center inscribed with the opening words of the Decalogue. They are divided into four on the right and six on the left, the second commandment is missing. The doors of the Ark open and reveal inside a Torah scroll with an inscription written in square full letters, and reads:
"וזאת התורה אשר שם משה לפני בני ישראל" Deut.4:44.
The Ark is flanked by two rampant lions and framed by wide bands of filigree decoration on gilded silver. The shield's back side bears an inscription in square full letters, and reads:
קניתי מהוני לכבוד צורי וקוני ולכבוד התורה הקדושה העלקע בת ה"ר משה מעניס
"I bought from my own capital in honour of my Rock and Buyer [God] and in honour of the sacred Torah, Helke daughter of Rabbi Moshe Menis"
A protruding crown surmounts the shield. It is decorated by a geometric motif filled with a foliate design. The center is topped by a bell.
7 image(s)
sub-set tree:
Seipel, Wilfried (ed.), Thora und Krone: Kultgeräte der jüdischen Diaspora in der Ukraine: eine Ausstellung des Kunsthistorischen Museums Wien (Vienna: Das Museum, 1993), p.140, no.38.
C.f. Wien, Kunsthis. Mus., Thora (Ukraine), 1993, p.140, no.38.