Obj. ID: 36249
Sacred and Ritual Objects Book Binding, Istanbul, 1867
Silver book bindings are one of the most elegant objects of Jewish ritual art. The form is generally copied from Catholic and Orthodox Christian tradition where prayer books were often covered with silver bindings in keeping with the other elegant silver pieces used in the prayer service. As in many other areas of life, Jews emulated some customs from what they saw of their Christian neighbors. Since such a binding was an expensive purchase for an individual, such silver pieces are fairly rare. Their appearance is most widespread in Italy, but examples also exist from Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, and even the Ottoman Empire.
The siddur was printed in Vienna, but the silver work was most likely done in Turkey in a European decorative style. The siddur is listed in the Gross Family Collection, B.1450
Inscription: Front: Menachem, Son of Mordechai Alkalai, May His Rock Protect and Sustain Him, Back: Today, 14 Nisan, the year (5)527