Obj. ID: 37147 Torah finials, Aleppo, circa 1920
sub-set tree:
F | Flower
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
M | Musical Instruments | Lyre
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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.
Rimmonim crafted in Syria have a special form with a "waist" in the middle of the upper element. The form is very much related to other Ottoman types which one can see in the forms used in Lebanon and Eretz Israel. They were crafted to stand on top of tiks which were in use in these areas. The small cast element on the top is also often found on these related forms, in this case having the shape of a lyre. This pair was made in Aleppo, ordered by one Yitzhak Delroza, and dedicated to the community of Aleppo Jews and their synagogue in Jerusalem. The inscription is written in very pleasing hollow letters.
Inscription: Dedicated to the Synagogue ???? Yitzhak Delroza, May the Lord sustain and protect him In the Holy city of Jerusalem, May it be built and established