Elaborate Torah Ark Curtain – Venasca, Italy, 1719

Elaborate Torah Ark Curtain – Venasca, Italy, 1719
Torah Ark curtain (Parochet). Venasca (in the Province of Cuneo in the region Piedmont), Italy, 1719.
Silk threads embroidery on hand-woven linen fabric.
An elaborate Torah Ark curtain, decorated with colorful embroidery. Rectangular frames decorated with floral motifs. Embroidered on the upper part with the inscriptions "Da lifnei mi ata omed" and "lichvod shechina", with two embroidered crowns between the inscriptions.
In the center - a large seven-branched Menorah, with branches and fonts in vegetal patterns with seven flames. The Menorah rests on a large Star of David, embroidered with yellow threads. In the center of the Star of David is a circle containing a star. On both sides of the Star of David are four embroidered flags on top of poles with embroidered inscriptions: "Degel Machane Yehudah", "Degel Machane Ephraim" (right), "Degel Machane Reuven" and "Degel Machane Dan (left). To the right of the flags – an embroidered Manna Jar with the inscription "Tzintzenet" (jar) and to the left side of the flags – Rod of Aaron the Prophet, blooming, inscribed "Mateh Aharon".
On the lower part of the curtain appears an embroidered dedication: "…1719 / donation of Yosef ben Yesha'aya / …Venasca".
A later embroidery in black threads appears on the bottom "ze Parochet Sheli".
In the 18th century, Venasca was famous for its textile and silk industry, which was active until the 19th century. In 2013, the population of Venasca, located about 25 kilometres northwest of Cuneo, was estimated at 1500.
Length: 91 cm, width: 73 cm. Good condition. Some damages to embroidery. Fringes added later. Lined with light blue silk and gold ribbon on the reverse. Eight fabric and metal loops for hanging – also added later.