Obj. ID: 37432  Hanukkah lamp, Czech Republic, circa 1800

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.

Cast brass Chanukah lamps were made in almost every place that Jews lived, usually taking their style from the local culture. Very few of them, however, show human figures. This rare example from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, most probably Prague, displays figures of Moses and Aaron as the two side pieces. Additionally there is a symbol of Jewish Prague, a Magen David in which is pictured a hat.