Italian silver binding. Venice, early 19th century
A repousséd silver binding with splendid engravings, handcrafted in Italy in the early 19th century.
Artistic bindings like these reveal the deep love and reverence that Jews, People of the Book, accorded to their sifrei kodesh throughout the course of history, despite centuries of exile and difficult wanderings.
Description: Engraved silver binding with clasps. It is thrice stamped, once on either side of the binding, and once on the back with 2 marks in each location (see same marks in TARDY p. 291). Another smaller marking, also mentioned (ibid), appears on one of the clasps, suggesting that the second clasp is likely not an original.
The silver binding boasts impressive, deep repoussé work with engravings of rocaille, vases and flowers. The center of the left cover features a crowned cartouche depicting a lion, and on the right cover, a crowned cartouche depicting a hand with its index finger pointing upwards. To the right of the finger is a moon, and to its left, a clover. The spine is ornately decorated with scrollwork, flowers and a protruding oval in its center. The placement of the clasps indicates that this binding was intended for a Hebrew book.
Condition: Good, with minor defects; one clasp is not original, without book.
Size: 19 x 12 cm.
Weight: 352 grams
Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection
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