Kestenbaum & Company - Auction 100
Auction Summary
Kestenbaum & Company is honored to announce its 100th Auction, which will take place on Thursday, January 19th at 1pm EST. Having served a broad and diverse range of clients for three decades, the 100th Auction is an opportunity to continue offering only the highest standard of Rare Judaica and Fine Art. Below are some highlights of the celebratory event, although, as always, perusal of the full catalogue is recommended (see link below).
In Fine Jewish Art we are privileged to present a painting by Isidor Kaufmann: ‘Portrait of a Yeshiva Student Wearing a Black Beaver Hat’ (Lot 112, Est. $200,000-300,000). This offering comprises a perfect example of Kaufmann’s distinctive, inimitable style. TheArthur Szyk Haggadah, printed entirely on vellum (Lot 72, Est. $25,000-30,000) is perhaps the most sublime of all Passover Hagadahs, while the category is rounded out by a Suite of 18 Illustrations to Israel Zangwill’s ‘Der König der Schnorrer’ by Rahel Marcus-Szalit (Lot 113, Est. $14,000-18,000). These drawings were thought to be lost to posterity over the past century, only to have been discovered most recently.
Ritual Objects is a category with many noteworthy offerings. Significant among them is a rare and highly importantParcel-Gilt Silver Filigree Spice Container from 19 th century Germany / Galicia (Lot 138, Est. $50,000-100,000). A spice-tower of exquisite quality, it is a scarce fusion of competing regional styles. Comes complete with contemporary custom fitted case. The images of a remarkably decorated, heavy Silver Chanukah Lamp (Lot 140, Est. $15,000-20,000) originating in Poland, c. 1800, must be viewed in full. The same is true of the Large 19th Century Continental Silver Megillah Case (Lot 143, Est. $15,000-20,000) which depicts Queen Esther bravely approaching King Ahasuerus.
Among the many Hebrew Manuscripts contained in the catalogue, a series of Biblical Manuscripts from the Cairo Genizah (Lots 12-15) deserve special mention. The manuscripts, dating as far back as the 10th century, contain entire Torah portions and provide valuable insights to medieval Jewish scholarship. Distinctive to Kabbalistic works, a Manuscript of the Shulchan Aruch Ha’Arizal, Posen, c. 1650, may be the oldest extant record of this important text (Lot 19, Est. $15,000-20,000). Another unique sub-category contained in this auction are letters written by members of great rabbinic families, such as that of R. Samson Raphael Hirsch (Lots 16-17) and the renowned Schneersohn family of Chabad-Lubavitch (Lots 26-29). Highlighting the personal side of the lives of celebrated Jewish leaders, the letters are matchless in their ability to humanize larger-than-life figures.
One especially strong category is American-Judaica. An almost-complete 20 Volume Set of Isaac Leeser’s The Occident is a treasure trove of Jewish History, both American and foreign. The monthly was America’s first successful Jewish periodical, issued in Philadelphia between 1843-1869 (Lot 43, Est. $40,000-60,000). So too, Isaac Pinto’s Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh Hashanah and Kipur is the first complete Jewish prayer-book published in the New World (Lot 42, Est. $60,000-80,000). The highly scarce text was issued in New York, 1766. Relating to pioneers of Orthodox Jewish life in the New York area, a List of Deceased Members of the Chevra Kadisha of Ahavath Torah, Englewood, New Jersey (1912-1933) strikes a chord (Lot 36, Est. $5,000-7,000).
Throughout the pages of the catalogue, testaments of character abound. Notable among them are lots relating to20th Century Jewish Leaders. These include aLetter from Albert Einsten (Lot 10, Est. $15,000-20,000) on the necessity of moral courage, as well as the Official Birth Certificate of Theodor Herzl’s youngest daughter Marguerite Herzl (Lot 11, $3,000-5,000). Of exceptional interest is a complete collection of the c. 90 Research Patents of Chaim Weizmann (Lot 99, $10,000-15,000). Submitted in London over the course of 40 years (1905-1945), it is oft forgotten that Israel’s first president was a scientist at heart, whose innovations contributed significantly to the Allied victory in World War One. See the full catalogue description for a complete description of how Weizmann fused his technical acumen with Zionistic ambition.
In Land of Israel, we are privileged to present the First Telephone Directory Produced for the Land of Israel (Lot 87, Est. $3,000-5,000). Printed in Jerusalem, 1921, it is a symbol highlighting the achievements made by contemporary Israel’s high-tech prowess. Another item of tremendously significant importance is an Archive of Documents Pertaining to the Yemenite-Jewish Community of Kfar HaShiloach, Jerusalem (Lot 8, Est. $12,000-18,000). The archive contains much information on legal ownership of properties in the original neighborhood, as well as on efforts of the deportees to return or receive compensation. Intersecting Land of Israel with Photography (Lots 130-136) is Photographies de Terre Sainte (Jerusalem, late 19th century), with 48 Prints of Scenery Across the Holy Land by Felix Bonfils (Lot 132, Est. $3,000-4,000). Another important category of the auction is Holocaust materials (Lots 75-83), containing a diverse range of materials.
Finally, within Philately & Numismatics, a Set of Three Imperforate Full Sheets of 50 Stamps (250m, 500m and 1,000m) from Israel, 1948 comprise the Ultimate Israel Philatelic Rarity (Lot 102, Est. $100,000-150,000). Similarly, the First Stamps Issued by the Nascent State of Israel, five full sheets (Lot 103, Est. $25,000-30,000) are highly rare. So too is a Rare Full Set of British Mandate-Issued Coins from 1927-1946 (Lot 100, Est. $7,000-9,000).
Kestenbaum & Company is proud to continue its tradition of quality, service, and commitment. As we mark our 100th Auction, we look forward to engaging with our clients, sharing our mutual passion for Jewish Tradition, History and Culture.
Questions and comments about the sale, as well as general inquiries may be directed to Shaya at Jack@Kestenbaum.net.
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LOTTO 113:
MARCUS-SZALIT, RAHEL. ...
dettagli...
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Venduto per: $12 000
Prezzo iniziale:
$
12 000
Prezzo stimato :
$14 000 - $18 000
Commissione per la casa d'aste: 25%
IVA: 8.875%
Il prezzo e la commissione del lotto completo
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MARCUS-SZALIT, RAHEL.
Suite of 18 graphite and ink drawings, illustrations to 'Der König der Schnorrer' by Israel Zangwill.
Each signed by the artist "R. Szalit-Marcus" and dated “1921” in the lower right corners (two of the drawings are not dated). Of the 18 drawings, 17 are matted and of these, 16 are titled in pencil in German, on the mat. The handwriting is unidentified, perhaps but not necessarily Szalit-Marcus’.
Of the 18 drawings, 17 are mounted with a cardboard mat (passepartout) and backed with paper. All the mats exhibit foxing spots and age stains around the edges. Seven of the drawings have some foxing in the image and another five have light foxing in the image; the rest are clean. The one unmounted drawing has a 6cm horizontal closed tear in its top right corner.
The 16 titled drawings are, in alphabetical order:
* 1. Am Fischmarkt.
* 2. Beim Stulger [sic]
* 3. Beim Telerderhändler [sic]
* 4. Beim Vorstand der Synagoge.
* 5. da Costa und Jankele im Thater [sic]
* 6. Da Costa und sein Diener.
* 7. Frau da Costa wird [indecipherable]
* 8. Frau Rabbi Pöckelhering.
* 9. Grobstroh und da Costa.
* 10. Grobstroh und die Bettler.
* 11. Im Càfé [sic]
* 12. In der Loge.
* 13. Jankele.
* 14. Mittagmahl beim Rabbi Pöckelhering.
* 15. Rabbi Pöckelhering.
* 16. Rat der Fünf.
Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19 x 25 cm).
1921
LOST FOR 100 YEARS: SUITE OF 18 ORGINAL DRAWINGS DATED 1921, BY THE ARTIST RAHEL SZALIT-MARCUS TO ILLUSTARTE ISRAEL ZANGWILL'S “THE KING OF SCHNORRERS.”
The drawings’ titles and the research detailed below conclusively prove that these are illustrations by Szalit-Marcus for the story The King of Schnorrers by the Anglo-Jewish author Israel Zangwill (1864-1926). The King of Schnorrers is Zangwill's picaresque novel, a collection of amusing tragicomic episodes concerning one "Manasseh Bueno Barzillai Azevedo da Costa.”
The first English edition of The King of Schnorrers was published in London in 1894 by Heinemann. The first German edition was published three years later, in 1897, under the title Der König der Schnorrer (Berlin: Cronbach).
An interesting coincidence is that the third German edition was published by Cronbach in Berlin in 1921, the same year these Szalit-Marcus drawings are dated. This may indicate that Szalit-Marcus created these drawings for this third edition. Whether or not this is correct, they were not used in this edition, nor any later one.
Despite the mention of the Szalit-Marcus illustrations in numerous respected biographical sources, no edition of The King of Schnorrers with illustrations by Szalit-Marcus exists, in any language. Moreover, no mention can be found anywhere of the existence or survival of the original The King of Schnorrers illustrations, which thus could be considered as having been lost for the past 100 years.
More recent information on the matter was provided by Sabine Koller, Professor of Slavic-Jewish Studies at the University of Regensburg, Germany. In 2012, Professor Koller published an article titled “Mentshelekh un Stsenes: Rahel Szalit-Marcus illustriert Sholem Aleichem” [People and Scenes: Rahel Szalit-Marcus illustrates Sholem Aleichem] in Leket: Yiddish Studies Today, ed. Marion Aptroot, et al (Düsseldorf) pp. 207-231). In her article, Professor Koller states, "Fenster and Sennewald mention [illustrations by Szalit-Marcus for] Martin Buber's ‘Stories for Children, ’ as well as [for] Israel Zangwill's ‘The King of Schnorrers.’ I have not been able to locate these." (see pp. 210, footnote 17).
In private correspondence (January 2017) Professor Koller writes: "I would have liked to have found proof for the fact that the illustrations were published, but I could not find out anything. Nor have I seen these illustrations."
In April 1968 the Tel Aviv Museum of Art hosted an exhibition entitled “Memorial Exhibition: Jewish Artists Who Perished in the Holocaust” curated by Dr. Haim Gamzu. Three works by Rahel Szalit-Marcus were included and are listed in the exhibition catalogue. Item number 207 (not illustrated in the catalogue) is described as an “Illustration to 'King of the Schnorrers' by Zangwill, 1921 / Charcoal on paper, 25x20 / Signed and dated lower right.”The list of institutions and private collectors who lent items to the exhibition states that item 207 was lent by Asher and Nehama Rosenblum of Ramat Gan, Israel. The Rosenblum Collection was a widely renowned Israeli collection of Jewish art. Interestingly, of the 18 drawings in the suite, one is marked on the verso in Hebrew “Asher Rosenblum.” None of the other 17 drawings are marked similarly. This may indicate that this is the drawing that was lent by the Rosenblums to the exhibition.
CONCLUSION: Based on the above empirical data, it can be concluded that:
* These 18 drawings are the original illustrations Szalit-Marcus prepared for Zangwill's The King of Schnorrers.
* These are the same illustrations referred to by Fenster, Borvine, Sennewald, Nieszawer and Koller in their respective writings (see references below).
* The illustrations were likely prepared for the 1921 German edition of Der König der Schnorrer but for unknown reasons were not utilized.
* The illustrations have to date, and for the past 100 years, been considered lost.
Provenance:
1. Collection of Asher (1918-2002) and Nehama (1923-2011) Rosenblum, Ramat Gan, Israel, from the mid-20th century and then in 2011 by descent to:
2. Descendent of the Rosenblums, Tel Aviv, acquired in 2016 by:
3. Private collector, Tel Aviv. The previous owner remembers the drawings being in the Rosenblums’ possession since circa the 1960’s but does not know how and when they entered the collection.
References:
The existence of Szalit-Marcus’ illustrations for The King of Schnorrers is documented in the following sources:
* Fenster, Hersh. Nos Artistes Martyrs - Undzere Farpaynikte Kinstler. Paris: Eigenverlag, 1951 (pp. 231-235).
* Borvine Frenkel, Boris; et al. Nos Artistes Morts Victimes du Nazisme. Issue No. 4. Paris: L’Association des Artistes Peintres et Sculpteurs Juifs de France, February 1960.
* Sennewald, Adolf. Deutsche Buchillustratoren im ersten Drittel des 20. Jahrhunderts: Materialien für Bibliophile. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1999 (p. 225).
* Nieszawer, Nadine; et al. Peintres juifs à Paris, 1905-1939 École de Paris. Paris: Denoël, 2000 (p. 324).
* Koller, Sabine. Mentshelekh un Stsenes: Rahel Szalit-Marcus illustriert Sholem Aleichem. Düsseldorf: Düsseldorf University Press, 2012 (pp. 207-231).
* Gamzu, Haim. Memorial Exhibition: Jewish Artists Who Perished in the Holocaust. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 1968 (no. 207).
PDF’s of all the above references are available upon request.
RAHEL MARCUS(1894-1942) was born in Lodz, Poland. After studying at the Art Academy of Munich she married the Jewish actor Julius Szalit. Gravitating to Berlin, Marcus-Szalit became a member of the November Group - young avant-garde artists who coalesced after the November Revolution of 1918. When the Nazis rose to power, she fled to France, however was subsequently deported to Auschwitz where she perished. See EJ, Vol. XV, col. 656.
