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

FINELY EMBROIDERED LINEN TORAH BINDER. Germany, possibly Alsace, 1737.

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