Torah Crown

CulturePolish
Titles
  • Torah Crown
DateLate 18th-early 19th century
MediumSilver, silver-gilt and paste stones
DimensionsOverall: 19 1/4 × 14 1/4 × 14 1/4 in. (48.9 × 36.2 × 36.2 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Toomim-Robinson Family
Object number2023.30
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
200 Brown Gallery
On view

Explore Further

Object Type
Provenance[Sotheby's, New York, December 18, 1986, lot 258. Property from the estate of Admor of Mezhibush, The Apter Rav, Isaac Meir Heschel (1901-1985)]; Abraham Halpern, 1986; [The Halpern Judaica Collection: Tradition and Treasure, Part I, Sotheby's, New York, December 15, 2022, Lot 71]; purchased by MFAH, 2023.

Note: Isaac Meir Heschel was appointed Admor in 1929 upon the passing of his father. As a result of the Soviet persecution of Jews the Rabbi traveled to several cities to tend to his disciples clandestinely. He immigrated to Haifa in 1936 and in 1941 to the United States. He served on numerous prestigious rabbinical commissions and was highly respected for his wisdom, scholarship, and piety. In 1968, with the decline of Jews in the Bronx he returned to Haifa where he led a large congregation of disciples until his passing. Mezhbizh is the name of the town of Medzhybizh in the present Ukraine which is significant as both the source of a Hasidic dynasty that bears its name and as a symbolic name for the roots of Hasidism.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Engraved in Hebrew on the heart-shaped medallions (each saying the same): “Blessed is our God Who created us for His own glory and gave us a true Torah.”

Engraved in Hebrew around the ball finial: “Donated by Pesah Tsevi ben Dov and his wife Yuta bat Eliezer, from the holy community of Kamenets .”
Apparently unmarked

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Torah Finials
Second half of 19th century
Silver, gilding, turquoise and red semi-precious stones
2023.33.A,.B
Overall.
John Smyth & Sons
1891
Sterling silver and colored stones
2023.27
Torah Crown
mid 18th century
Silver and silver-gilt
2022.228
c. 1600–1620
Ebonized wood, gilt bronze, semi-precious stones, and silver
74.249.2
Crucifix only
c. 1600–1620
Ebonized wood, gilt bronze, semi-precious stones, and silver
74.249.1
Claret Jug
George Fox
1880
Sterling silver, gilt, cabochon red stones or glass
94.45
Wrapper for a Torah Case
late 19th-early 20th century
Gilt embroidery and application on maroon cotton velvet, gilt fringes
2023.18
Pin (No. 1197)
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
c. 1980s
Enamel and paste stones
97.427
Miriam Haskell Jewelry Co.
c. 1950
Metal and paste stones
94.320.A-.C
Pair of Torah Finials
Georg Zeiller
1825
Silver and silver-gilt
2023.29.2.A,.B
Torah Finials
Hendrik Kramer
1756
Silver and silver-gilt
2023.35.A,.B
Torah Finial
c. 1830-1840
Silver and silver-gilt
2023.31