Obj. ID: 36939  Torah finials, Iran, circa 1920

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The finials evolved from knobs at the upper end of the staves (Atzei Chaim) on which the Torah scroll is wound. Since the shape of the spherical finial recalled that of a fruit, it was called a tappu'aḥ, "apple," among the Jews of Spain and in the Sephardi Diaspora, and a rimmon, "pomegranate," in all other communities.

The earliest known reference to Torah finials occurs in a document from 1159, found in the Cairo Genizah, from which we learn that by the 12th-century finials were already being made of silver and had bells. Around the same time, Maimonides mentions finials in the Mishneh Torah (Hilkhot Sefer Torah 10:4). Despite the variations on the spherical shape which developed over the centuries and the addition of small bells around the main body of the finial, the spherical, fruit-like form was the basic model for the design of finials in Oriental and European communities.

A most significant variation appeared in 15th-century Spain, Italy, and Germany, where the shape of finials was influenced by that of various objects of church ritual, whose design often incorporated architectural motifs, The resulting tower-like structure, which seems to have appeared around the same time in different parts of Europe, became the main type of finial in 18th-century Germany and Italy, as well as Morocco, brought there by Jews expelled from Spain.

This pair of Torah finials is in the shape of hands, which can represent either the hands of Cohanim or the amuletic "hamsa" or both at once. Similar in shape and conception to the "Keter Torah" form of Rimmonim in Afghanistan, this pair might have been used in a similar fashion, between two conventional pair of Rimmonim, on a Tik in eastern Iran, although pictures exist where they are the only pair at the top of a Tik. The unusual form of the inscription, requesting remembrance prayers after the donor's death, may indicate that he was a man without children, who would normally perform this duty for his soul after his death.

Inscription:

Front: Dedicated to the lord and not to be sold and not to be pledged. The donor is Rahamim Nisan. The holy congregation is requested to make rest for his spirit by the raising of the soul of the departed, may his memory be a blessing, and to recite the remembrance prayer after his death.

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