shperk | Навстречу Хануке

Italy, c1700 Brass, cast, chased; H 11.6 cm, W 22.7 cm

The predominant type of Hanukkah menorah in Italy is one that is assembled from cast parts. There are a few distinct types, which were repeated through the ages. This model is thought to be from the16th or 17th century, but it is likely to have been cast anew in every generation, even though existing examples are quite rare.

The brickwork back plate reflects the architectural elements, which can be seen in Italy -- a good example of the general tendency for architectural forms to predominate in the design of the Hanukkah menorah. This particular type is considered to be from Rome.

Frankfurt A. M., Hessen, Germany, c1720

Silver, fabricated, cast
H 6 cm, W 14 cm

This type of lamp preceded the most popular and well-known Frankfurt type of the last half of the 18th century - the bench type. Members of the same Leschorn family made many of these later lamps. There are far fewer examples of this earlier type. One other example of this type by the same maker exists in another private collection. The general form is that of a chest for the storage of linens or other personal belongings commonly used in an early 18th-cetury German household.

Ukraine, c1825

Silver, gilt silver, filigree, repousse, chased
H 24.5 cm, W 28.1 cm, D 1.9 cm

More than any other style of Hanukkah menorah, this form represents Galicia and the Ukraine. In the literature it is called the baal shem tov lamp, but this name dates only from 1928 when a gift to the then Bezalel Museum was reported as having belonged to the great Hasidic master known by that name. All of these lamps date from far after his death, but the legendary name has remained for the last 70 years, and is widely used today as well.

This particularly aesthetic lamp was first made in Galicia, apparently starting in the 1820s. With the development of the Jewish silver crafts in Zhitomer in the 1850s, these lamps were then produced there, often marked. There are a few example produced in England at the end of the century, probably by immigrant silversmiths from the Ukraine.

From all places they usually appear with the symbol of the double-headed eagle, as in this example, or with the holy ark with two doors. Birds, lions and griffins are often depicted. The large number of examples remaining would indicate that the use of this type was quite widespread. Examples have appeared at auction quite regularly over the last decade.

Austria, Vienna, 1837

Silver, pierced, engraved, stamped
H 20 cm, W 25.5 cm

This attractive, elegant Hanukkah menorah is an accurate copy of the contemporary couch in the drawing rooms of many people of the Biedermeir era. There are several examples of this general type in public and private collections.

The back of the couch form is very delicately cut out and engraved with leaves and flowers. The upper part is like an elaborately carved top piece of the furniture. The proportions and finish make this a fine representative piece from Vienna of this time. It is a prime example of the integration of contemporary styles and forms in the making of Judaica. The silvermark of the master is unfortunately struck poorly and therefore unidentifiable, but the city/date mark is clearly 1837.

Salonika, Greece, c1850

Brass, cast, tinned; H 22.4 cm, W 30.2 cm, D 6.7 cm

The back plate design of this Hanukkah menorah reveals Italian antecedents. It was used extensively in the Ottoman areas of Greece, such as Corfu where the Italian influence was strong. But the primary use seems to have been in Salonika, which had by far the most extensive Jewish population, reaching 80,000 before the Holocaust. Examples are know with dates as early as the 18th century. The oil holders on this example are tinned on the bottom.

Fez, Morocco, c1875

Brass, cast, chased; H 36.5 cm, W 25.5 cm, D 7.2

This outstandingly worked Hanukkah menorah is of a type identified with Fez. The arches are consistent with the arches often portrayed on the title pages of Hebrew manuscripts from this city. The object is very heavy; the substantial casting had decoration in the model from which the casting was made and was chased as well after the casting process.

India, c1900

Brass, cast; H 37 cm, W 38 cm, D 1 cm

The form of the Indian Hanukkah menorah is often decorated by the magen david, although usually this is cut out of brass on a wooden back. This cast brass open triangle back with the magen david in the center is quite unusual in its form. Each oil receptacle is stamped with a number corresponding to one on the triangular frame so as to ensure the proper fit for use on the holiday. The triangular shape is typical of openwork Hanukkah lamps from India.

Fez, Morocco, c1930

Silver, pierced, chased, engraved
H 33 cm, W 22 cm

This Hanukkah menorah is crafted with beautiful pierced work; other similar lamps (probably made by the same workshop) have different back plate designs and have bird images on top rather than the hamsah in this example. Additionally, the overall patterns in this example are unusual, reflecting characteristic Moroccan / Andalusian architectural motifs, particularly common in mosque decoration. The pattern of the back plate is found in buildings both in wood, carved plaster and carved marble.

The workmanship and finish indicate that the lamp was made in Fez, where there was at least one workshop that specialized in this cut-out technique and design. Other objects made in this technique in Fez are mezuzah covers, tallit containers, amulets, Sabbath lamps and memorial lamps. Most of the objects in this style appear to have been created during the period from the 1920s-1940s.

По материалам сайта