Obj. ID: 9191
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Torah finials, Isfahan, 19??

The Torah finial consists of a shaft, a body and a head.

The cylindrical shaft rises from a narrow ring. The shaft bears a floral decoration forming rhomboid leaves. A plant appears in the middle of each rhombus.

The shaft is surmounted by a compressed globular capital. A band, alternately decorated with diagonal leaves and flowers encircles the capital.

The apple-shaped body is encircled in the middle by a band with a dedicatory inscription, written in square-filled letters that reads:

"וזאת התורה אשר שם משה לפני בני ישראל(דברים ד מה): תורת " תמימה (תהלים יט ז)"

"And this is the Law which Moses set before the children of Israel (Duet.4:44): the Law is perfect (Ps.19:7)"

The body is decorated with a floral motif of rhomboid leaves, framed by two identical narrow strips. The strips bear a pattern similar to that of the capital. Above the upper strip appears an inscription. The inscription is written in square letters and reads:

"קל''ה (קודש לה') נדבת פרידה בת אסתר לבית הכנסת אהורפלים"

"Dedicated to the Lord a donation of Frida, the daughter of Ester, to the Urfalim synagogue."

The body is surmounted by a capital similar to the shaft’s one.

The elongated head radiates from the capital. It consists of a goblet-shaped lower part topped by a dome. The lower part bears a pattern of heart- shaped leaves. The dome is decorated with elongated leaves.

Chains terminating with globular bells are attached to the connection of lower part and the dome.