Obj. ID: 39358  Prayer shawl (Tallit), Italy, 1892/3

The following description was prepared by William Gross:     

The prayer shawl, or "Tallit" in Hebrew, is worn during daily prayers by adult Jews, those over the age of 13, after the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah.  Tallitot with decoration from historical periods are very few, Most of extant examples are from Holland and Italy, many of them originating with the Sephardic communities. This example is embroidered on the for corners to which the Tzitzit are attached, providing both a decorative element and a strengtheing of the fabric in a place that it is most vulnurable. The emboridery here is applied through a floral decorative motif, a date and a monogram, apparently MM, denoting the owner of the prayer shawl. The use of a date may well indicate that this tallit was made for a Bar Mitzvah gift with a recording of the year of the ceremony.     

Inscription:  M. M.