Obj. ID: 37402 Hanukkah lamp, Germany, circa 1900
sub-set tree:
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
The festival of Chanukah is celebrated in the winter period around December and commemorates a Biblical story in which the Jews of the Land of Israel rebel against the Greek occupiers. They reclaim the desecrated Holy Temple in Jerusalem and, miraculously, the small amount of pure oil remaining is enough to keep the Temple light going for eight days. Lamps with eight burners are lit during this holiday, both in the synagogue and at home. Through the centuries, such lamps have taken a wide variety of forms.
Patterned after large brass synagogue lamps, the base is supported by three cast dolphins. The branches have the protrusions of the Temple Menorah on the arms, which are held by hands attached to the central column. There exist several versions of this large lamp, which may also have been designed for Synagogue use. The exact time and origin have not fully been determined.