Auction 81 Collection of Willy Lindwer
By Kedem
Jul 13, 2021
8 Ramban St, Jerusalem., Israel
Orientalia: Jewish Ceremonial Art, Ethnic Jewelry and Printed Items
The auction has ended

LOT 6:

Three Torah Pointers – Morocco – Abukarat and Gabai Families

catalog
  Previous item
Next item 

Start price:
$ 400
Buyer's Premium: 25%
VAT: 17% On commission only
Users from foreign countries may be exempted from tax payments, according to the relevant tax regulations
tags:

Three Torah Pointers – Morocco – Abukarat and Gabai Families

Three Torah pointers ("qlam des-sifer"). Morocco, [late 19th century / early 20th century].
1. Silver, cast and engraved. Decorative flower-shaped upper joint with apical ring. Handle decorated with parallel horizontal lines. Flat open hand with extended fingers. Dedicatory Hebrew inscription (using customary abbreviations): "Servant of the Almighty, Makhlouf son of David... Abukarat...". Length: 12 cm. Good condition.
2. Brass, cast and engraved. Elliptical striped upper joint with apical ring. Handle with two striped elliptical joints. Flat open hand with extended fingers. Thumb pointing rightward as in left hand. Original leather band. Length: 19 cm. Good condition.
3. Brass, cast and engraved. Round upper joint with sun-like decoration at center and with apical ring. Handle decorated with pairs of leaves. Flat open hand with extended fingers. Dedicatory Hebrew inscription: "…Yisrael Kohen… Aharon Gabai." Length: 15 cm. Good condition.
Reference: Jewish Life in Morocco, pp. 54-55.


Moroccan Torah pointers are usually flat, and, unlike its counterparts in other parts of the Jewish world – in which, apart from the index finger, the "hand" is depicted as a clenched fist – here the hand is flat, with fingers extended, to give the appearance of a "hamsa" symbol. In Moroccan Judaeo-Arabic, this type of object is termed "qlam des-sifer, " or, as is implied in a dedicatory inscription on one particular Torah pointer (see item no. 7 below), a "moreh" (i.e., "guide").


catalog
  Previous item
Next item