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Torah Crown

CultureItalian

Dateca. 1750

MediumSilver

Dimensions6 3/16 in. (15.7 cm)

MarkingsIt is marked BP (Piero Pazzi’s catalogue of silversmith marks #100) and ZAC, control mark for Venice

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2021.2

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 208

Label TextTorah Crown, ca. 1750 Venetian Silver The Torah, or Law, consisting of the five books of the Hebrew prophet Moses, is the focus of Jewish synagogue worship all over the world. The precious handwritten parchment scroll itself is normally decorated in a way that makes clear its central place. This silver crown covers the top of the spiraled scroll, and it would be joined by additional silver decorations such as finials and shields. This splendid drum-shaped crown is typical of those made in Venice, where the large Jewish community was segregated by law on the island called Ghetto Vecchio. Museum purchase 2021.2ProvenanceOttolenghi Family of Venice to Sotheby’s NY to Jonathan Greenstein & Co., New York, NY to the CMA