Judaica, Ceremonial Art & Israeliana
by Kedem Public Auction House Ltd
Platinum House 277 lots with images
January 23, 2013
Live AuctionViewing Notes20th January 12 noon - 8pm, 21st January 12 noon - 10pm, 22nd January 10am - 8pm. Morning of sale 11am - 2pm.
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Lot 1: Impressive "Shiviti" on Parchment, for the Synagogue - Europe, 1812
Description: "Shiviti" sign. [Central Europe, apparently Germany]. 1812; renewed in 1866.Black / brown and red ink on parchment.Impressive "Shiviti" used in the Synagogue. On its upper margins (in Aramaic): "Woe to the person who talks in the Synagogue". At the top: "Know before whom you are standing, before the King of Kings 'HaKadosh Baruch Hu'" and "Shiviti Hashem L'Negdi Tamid". In the center is an illustration of a "menorah" with verses from Psalms, supported by two lions, flanked by two flowers. All around are various letter combinations and Names of G-d. Written around the right, bottom and left margins: "Man worries about the loss of his money but does not worry about the loss of his days. His money does not help him and his days do not return". Acronym of "Turn away from evil and do good" and of "Only good to Israel forever". At the base of the "menorah" is the date the sign was manufactured, "5572", and at the sides, the name of the person who made it," Avraham Katz". Some of the letters and ornamentation have been damaged and restored in 1866 as written on the bottom margins: "Repaired and renewed by me Yidel Esheim in 5626".33X34 cm. Two pieces, a few centimeters long, are missing and were restored by sewing in 1866. Two holes (apparently, one was used for hanging). Stains.
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Lot 2: "Shiviti" Adorned with "Piyutim" for Purim - Iranian Kurdistan
Description: "Shiviti" for hanging on the wall of a Synagogue, with "piyutim" for Purim and the blessing said over reading the "megillah". [Iranian Kurdistan, late 19th century or beginning of 20th century].Ink and paint on paper.In the center upper area is a "LaMenatzeach menorah". On the two remaining columns of the upper part and on the right column of the lower part is the piyut "Tnu Shira" / Yedidim Barchu Po'el Gevurot" by the poet Yafet ben Ye(hud)a (not complete), different from the familiar version. In the middle column at the bottom part are the blessings before reading the "megillah", and in the left column is an addition to the blessing "Harav Et Riveinu" for Purim. Part of the version of that addition is not known.The leaf is dated at the end: "Rosh Chodesh Adar 5425". Apparently, the person who made this "Shiviti" copied the "piyut" and the addition mentioned above from an early "Shiviti" poster, from 1665. The bibliographer and researcher Menashe Refael Lehman tells of a similar poster in the "Sinai" anthology (Issue 98, 1986, pp. 74-75): "The piyut 'Yedidim Barchu Poel Gevurot'... was not known until the present. It was written in various places on a parchment poster for Purim drawn in glorious colors and with clauses from the 'megillah'. I recently purchase the poster from an Arab merchant in the Old City of Jerusalem". Lehman adds that apparently, the poster originated in Persia. On the cardboard that comes with the leaf, the owner wrote "Bought in Jerusalem on August 1964". 31.9X39 cm. Fair condition. Tears, creases, stains and folding marks. Minor damages to writing. Glued on another leaf, on the reverse side are handwritten inscriptions. See: "Light and Shadows - The Story of Iran and the Jews" exhibition catalogue (Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv, 2010), pp. 48-49.
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Lot 3: "Shiviti" / Large Hand-Drawn Amulet - Herat, Afghanistan
Description: Large "Shiviti" for hanging, with kabalistic motifs and letter-combinations for protection. Herat, Western Afghanistan, [end of 19th century or beginning of 20th century]. Ink on paper.Large impressive "Shiviti". Adorned at the top with Stars of David, Tablets of Law and crowns; in the center are ten Psalms written in the shape of large "menorahs" and in the shape of a Star of David; in the margins and on the lower part are Psalms in the shape of arches.At the bottom is a long text in Hebrew and Arabic / Persian Hebrew, incorporated with kabalistic letter combinations with the author's name as well: "Mashiach Ashgari The Small, dust under the feet of the wise, lives in Herat Afghanistan... for the well-being of the young man Shmuel Chayai --- he and his whole family and all --- and his relatives and all he has...". At the end of the text is the verse "G-d shall bless you, and make you fruitful and you shall become a congregation of nations" - a segula for fertility.49X59 cm. in frame 61X71.5 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Tears, some with damage to text (especially in margins) - professionally restored. Creases and folding marks. Not examined out of frame.
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Lot 4: "Shiviti" - Handwritten Decorated Parchment Leaf - Morocco
Description: ["Shiviti"], "The merit of Rabbi David HaLevi should protect you", decorated leaf for hanging in the synagogue. Morocco, [19th century].Ink and paint on parchment; gold color; tiny metal sequins.At the top of the leaf is an illustration of a crown, under which the name of G-d appears above the inscription "The merit of Rabbi David HaLevi should protect you" [Rabbi David ben Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi of Daraa, a Spanish exile who reached Morocco in 1492; Torah scholar and mekubal, author of Sefer HaMalchut]. In the center of the leaf are three lamps. The drawing of the right lamp is composed of the words of Ana BeKoach, the middle lamp is composed of the words of Psalm 67 and the left is composed of the words of Psalm 121 (Shir LaMa'alot). Under the lamps is the version of a kabalistic prayer for livelihood from the Holy Zohar. The leaf has colored and golden decorations, in geometric and plant patterns; entirely enclosed in a window-shaped frame. The Ana B'Koach lamp and the Shir LaMa'alot lamp are also enclosed in pointed window-shaped frames. The row of flowers in a peripheral frame, the crown at the top of the leaf and the center lamp are decorated with tiny sequins, sewn to the parchment leaf (on the reverse side, papers were glued to protect the threads from unraveling).40X59 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Minor damages to paint. Creases.
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Lot 5: Four Parchment Amulets - Home Protection
Description: Four parchment amulets for protecting the home.Ink on parchment, cut in the shape of a square.Incantations, oaths, names of angels and letter combinations for protecting the home. Four amulets designated for hanging on four sides of the house, with the inscriptions "East", "West", "North" and "South".Approximately 13X13 cm. Stains.
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