SILVER MOUNTED TORAH CASE. North Africa or Palestine, 1919.

Round case, completely covered in silver, worked in an overall pattern of florettes within diamonds; crenellated top edge. Upper section in form of onion dome with similar surface and silver ribs, topped by coronet with pendant chains with pomegranates. Metal shafts for finials. Interior lined in blue velvet; interior surfaces of upper section are covered in gilt silver, with embossed urns with flowers flanking embossed inscriptions. Inscriptions in top and bottom bands around exterior, and on interior, in Hebrew: “This Tik and the Torah scroll within are a gift of … Salem Meir Phineas… and his wife known as Gala, daughter of Haninah …December, 1918; on the condition that they may move the Torah at will.” No marks found. H: 865mm.

The passage (.”..And this is the Torah..”) is inscribed on the interior face of the Tik, thus when it is openly displayed during the synagogue services, the verse could be read directly by the Congregation. For a comparable example found in the Jewish Museum, London, see Barnett, No. 17, Pl. LIII, p. 6 SEE ILLUSTRATION