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Img. ID: 161873

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Kheifetz, Michael, 1993

The brass back wall of the Reader's^Desk is rectangular and terminats with an undulating arched-top. The back wall is decorated symmetricali on both sides of a central axis, in the shape of a two-storied facade. At the lower storey four columns support three arches and entablature. In the widest central arch there is an inscription in square and fieled letters which read:

"שויתי##יהוה ##לנגדי תמיד"

I have set the Lord always before me" (Ps. 16:8)

A floral cartouch is placed in the center of the arched entablature. It is flanked from both sides by two pillasters that rise above the lower columns. Two lions sejant guardant with human faced sit on the inner pillaster each is flanked on is back by a torch of a flame that emerge out of an amphora. The others part of the entablature is decorated entirely with small dots. In the upper storey four columns support three equal arches. which are decorated with floral cartouches. The entablature is framed by a scroll like pattern. Identical smaller scroll decorats its center. four rectangular pedestal bearing a flower in the center and intercalated by panels decorated with romboids net pattern. On each side of the columns is an amphora out of which emerge floral scrolls that rise along the sides and form an arched-frame to the central motifs, whill meeting the scroll that emerge from a the vase of the upper storey. A bird facing backward stands on the scrolls on each side. 

Name/Title
Amud from the Great Synagogue in Vilnius | *Synagogue Objects | Amud
Object
Object Detail
Field documentation
Settings
Unknown
Date
17??
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Brass, wood platform
Material Stucture
sawed
Material Decoration
repousse, punched, engraved
Material Bonding
nailed
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
135 cm (overall); 85cm (back wall)
Length
Width
53.5 cm
Depth
27.5 cm
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
The object is partly cracked and part of the decoration is of a new brass. The sockets base is new.
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
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
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
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
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
None
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks
Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
AQ : The object was given to the museum from the Art Museum of Vilna in 1991. It was in the Art Museum since 1949. HIS : The reader's desk belonged to unknown synagogue but it was property of the Jewish Museum of Vilna after it was hidden in Ghetto during the war.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
Vladimir Levin, 20. “Synagogues, Batei Midrash and Kloyzn in Vilnius,” in Aliza Cohen-Mushlin, Sergey Kravtsov, Vladimir Levin, Giedr? Mick?nait?, and Jurgita Šiau?i?nait?-Verbickien? (eds.), Synagogues in Lithuania: A Catalogue, vol. 2 (Vilnius: Vilnius Academy of Art Press, 2012), No. 1, and see illustrations and bibliography there.
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Michael Tal | 7.1993
Author of description
|
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
S105086