On long band of linen composed of four sections, embroidered in green, tan and garnet silk threads, the traditional text, specifying “Isaac, son of Hezekiah, the Levite, born Friday, 12th Elul, 1737.” L: 2940mm. Worn
AUCTION 11 |
Tuesday, November 28th,
2000 at 1:00
Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts From the Library of the London Beth Din
Lot 298
FINELY EMBROIDERED LINEN TORAH BINDER.
Germany, possibly Alsace, 1737.
On long band of linen composed of four sections, embroidered in green, tan and garnet silk threads, the traditional text, specifying “Isaac, son of Hezekiah, the Levite, born Friday, 12th Elul, 1737.” L: 2940mm. Worn
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
Provenance: From the Collection of the Late Sigmund S. Harrison, Villanova, Pennsylvania
The decorations on this Wimpel include animals, arabesques of flowers, and Stars of David. A variety of embroidery techniques including cutwork, display the fine craft of the maker, possibly the child’s mother.
The Wimpels of Alsace are known for the animal terminals as well as the patterned interiors of the letters.
For a similarly embroidered example, see Israel Museum Catalogue, The Jews of Alsace (1991) no. 58.
See also A. Weber, Mappot, the Band of Jewish Tradition (1997) no. 2, p. 125 and 131