Torah Scroll Case - Iraq / Persia, 19th Century

Torah Scroll Case - Iraq / Persia, 19th Century
Torah scroll case. Iraq / Persia, with a dedication from 1869.
Wood covered with velvet and fabric; sheet silver plaques, repoussé and embossed; copper bands, punched and cut; paper; glass.
A prism shaped case with ten edges. The body of the case is made of wood, covered with red velvet (on the outside) and with fabric with a pattern of flowers (on the inside). Silver plaques with a floral pattern are attached to the red velvet, arranged in rows. Copper bands, ornamented with a vegetal pattern (different) encompass the upper and lower margins. The upper part of the case is a crown adorned with plaques identical to those which adorn the case. On top of the crown, a silver decoration from which four chains with bells are hanging. On both sides of the crown, two rods for finials are fixed diagonally. On the inner side appear two dedication plaques, made of paper covered with glass, fixed with a painted wooden frame. Encircling the inscriptions is a furrowed frame with floral pattern ornamentation. Inscribed on the right dedication plaque (in Hebrew): “this case…in memory of…Raphael…died…”. On the left plaque inscribed (in Hebrew): “this is the Torah…Kehilat Ya’akov”. The case opens with hinges on its back and closes with a hook in front.
Height: 107.5 cm, width: 30 cm. Good-fair condition, several broken plaques and several damages to bands, worn velvet mainly on edges and on area of opening. Repairs with adhesive tape around one of the glasses. Flaking paint around the glass. Spots and tears on inner fabric.
For similar case see: Bracha Yaniv, “Ma’ase Choshev, HaTik LeSefer HaTorah veToldotav” (Bar ilan and Ben-zvi Institute Publication, 1998), p. 170.
Objects – Judaica & Israeliana