Picture credits: Jewish press
Last week, in New York, Sotheby's organized its former fall auction of ancient Judaica, which included ceremonial objects, paintings, books, and manuscripts that interested collectors, dealers, and museums around the world.
The sales results were mixed, half of the offered lots were not sold. However, as is often the case with elite auction houses such as Sotheby's, the best-selling items, these lots provide hefty offers from attendees and other vendors at multiple levels. Telephone and internet
Undoubtedly the star of the proposed ceremony objects was "A large and rare German silver cup of the Jewish community Darmstadt in the year 1710. The garment was estimated between $ 100,000 and $ 150,000 and sold for $ 287,000." All items that deal with a funeral home Generally, they sell very well when they appear on the market, as there is a small but passionate group of Judaica collectors who are exclusively focused on objects from this area. In Hebrew, the names of members of the funeral society are centimeters high engraved, which are listed in chronological order of the years in which they have joined the Chevra Kadisha of Darmstadt, as well as the symbols of the zodiac.
The successful candidate for this article was John Coffey, director of the North Carolina Museum of Art. I had the opportunity to speak with Coffey shortly after purchasing this article. He was glad that his museum was the guardian of this extremely rare and important piece. Prior to the sale, he had asked his donors to acquire Judaica to generously fulfill their financial pledges to buy the trophy. The North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the few general art museums in the country with a permanent gallery dedicated to Jewish ceremonial art. There is a very important collection that I strongly recommend to our readers to see if they happen or happen. throughout North Carolina. Coffey noticed that this cup has a "presence" and after seeing it in person, I totally agree.
The biggest success of this sale is one of the three paintings of the legendary portraitist Isidor Kaufmann, who is considered to be the best Jewish painter of the 19th century. The painting I saw of a smaller merchant (just 6 by 7 inches and 5/8 inches tall ) is an exquisite depiction of a very small child with Payos ( curls ) sitting in a chair, dressed in a fur coat and with Shtreimel . The play titled " Son of the Wonder Rabbi by Belz" was sold for $ 704,000 for an estimate of $ 550,000 to $ 750,000. The only time that this painting was offered to the public was auctioned in 1906 in Vienna. It appears on the cover of the most complete book ever made on the well-known works of Kaufmann, Rabbi, Bocher, Talmudschuller and Weiner Bilder. Painter Isidor Kaufmann 1853-1921 , published in 1995 by the Jewish Museum in Vienna.
Among the printed materials offered for auction was the first English edition of a complete prayer book in the United States. Published in New York in 1766, only a few copies of this Siddur have been auctioned in the last 30 years, as it is quite rare. While the leaders of the Sephardic Jewish community in London at that time strictly forbade the English translation of a Hebrew prayer book that serves as a bulwark for assimilation, the translator of this book translated it into the New York colony, Isaac Pinto, partially justifying his Efforts in the introduction: "[Hebrew], misunderstood by many, by some, not at all ... inspired to try an English translation, not without the hope that this will help to improve my devotion brothers, at an estimate from $ 40,000 to $ 60,000, this book was sold for $ 43,750.
Another publication that caught the eye is the first Jewish cookbook published in the United States. The book, entitled Jewish Cookbook, was written by Esther Levy of Philadelphia in 1871 according to the principles of the economy for Jewish governesses . It offers practical advice to US born Jews "without the benefit of traditional ethnic education". Many recipes are included, all of which are strictly according to the laws of Kashrut . Levy explains that "without violating the rules of our religion, a table can be set up to satisfy the appetite of the most demanding." A chapter on food for the sick is included, which contains medical prescriptions for unconsciousness and diphtheria. There are even detailed tips for cleaning the house, including how to cook a good insecticide (!) And how to remove mold. At an estimated $ 15,000 to $ 20,000, the book was sold for $ 16,250.
As in previous auctions of Sotheby's Judaica in recent years, ceremonial silver objects of the Polish craftsman Ilya Schor have achieved very good results. These items, all of which were handcrafted by Schor in New York in the 1950s and 1960s, are charming works of art that can also be used in Judaica. Two cases of mezuzah , one with a standard size of 20 cm in length and the other with an unusually large size over 20 cm in length and a very large width, have very detailed engravings of men and women. Jews from biblical times to today.
The standard case had three scenes: Ruth in a field; Ruth and Boas; and Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, face-to-face. Naomi put her hands on Ruth's shoulders. In an estimate of $ 15,000 to $ 25,000, it was sold for $ 23,750. The big problem involved these three scenes: a dancing Jasid ; a man with kippa and clowns holding the shovel and digging the ground; and a rabbi, with outstretched arms and open mouth, carrying a great dam and praying to heaven. The 12 zodiac signs were framed in these scenes. For an estimate of $ 25,000 to $ 35,000, this case was sold for $ 40,000.
The object that surpassed expectations was the last batch Schor offered, a glass of kiddush . Estimated at $ 10,000- $ 15,000, it sold for a much larger $ 32,500. The body of the mug is perforated and engraved with cubist scenes by Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon and Dovid Hamelech. The scenes are surrounded by inscriptions in Hebrew, including the first stanza by Kol Mikadesh Shevii . The stalk of the cup contains a verse from Esther to Havdalah , and at the foot of the cup the blessing is over the wine.
Personally: During the holidays, I lend the Leo Baeck Institute in Manhattan a Hanukkah Menorah from my collection. The mission of the LBI is to preserve German-Jewish culture, and my chosen Menorah all come from Germany from the 18th century to the 1930s. My Menorah will be on display from 16 to 30 December. The Leo Baeck Institute is located on 15 West 16th Street in Manhattan. come on
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