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Obj. ID: 3481
Sacred and Ritual Objects
  Torah case, Tunisia, early 20th century

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 1997

The prismatic Torah case consists of a body and a coronet.

The case opens in the centre on the front facet, forming two halves joined in the back by a steady facet.

The body is comprised of twelve facets and is encircled, at its upper and lower edges by two pairs of strips, creating two friezes. The two extreme strips are stepped. The upper frieze is decorated with a foliate pattern and a knob for hanging a wrapper is attached to each facet. 

An arched silver plaque inscribed with a dedication, is attached to the center of the front facet (fig. 1). It is divided in its middle into two vertical parts following the case's opening. The dedication is written in square letters and reads:

"זאת התורה/ המתנדב נסים/ סופר הי"ו (ה' יחיהו ויזכהו) לעלוי/ נשמת אשתו/ הכשרה והצנועה/ העלובה מרת/ מסעודה ת.נ.צ.ב.ה (תהא נשמתה צרורה בצרור החיים)."

“This Torah (case) was donated by Nissim Sofer (the scribe), May the Lord sustain him and grant him favour. (Donated) for the exaltation of the soul of his wife, the conscientious and modest the humble Mrs. Mass’udah, May her soul be bound in the bond of life.”

Scrolled branches are depicted within the onion-shaped arch, while two additional branches are engraved on the front facet, above the plaque. A round flower enclosed in a medallion, is set below the plaque, surmounting two scrolled leaves. A double hinge mechanisms set on floral circlets, are above and below the plaque.

The open-work coronet is composed of twelve units which continue the body's facets. Each unit is formed of symmetrical pattern consisting of a fleur-de-lys at its centre framed by two pairs of rounded scrolls. An additional fleur-de-lys tops each facet. The connecting points between the facets are topped by a bud. The inner face of the Torah case is plain wood. Each half has a double shelf at its bottom and its top. The lower space is blocked by a bar with a rectangular opening at its side for inserting the hands while raising the Torah. The upper space is blocked with a wooden tablet decorated with open-work scrolls.

Holes for inserting the Torah scroll staves appear at the bottom and top.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

9 image(s)

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Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
Early 20th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Wood, silver
Structure: sawed, carved
Decoration: engraved, carved
Bonding: glued, nailed, hinged
Inscription: engraved and punched on silver
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height: 773 mm (general), 631 mm (body), 142 mm (coronet)
Width: 350 mm (body), 98 mm (facet)
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
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
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
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
Sharon Weiser | 07.97
Author of description
Efrat Assaf-Shapira | 03.02
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
Ariella Amar | 03.02
Language Editor
Simona Gronemann | 06.11
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |