CONTINENTAL HEAVY SCULPTED BRONZE.

20th century

Composed in a high-relief style. Consists of three, seemingly disconnected narrative sections: At top, pair of bearded angelic-styled figures; below, pair of worshippers each wearing a Talith and rolling an open Sefer Torah. Large central register features a religious man with book propped open upon a synagogue-shtender and flanked by two petitioners, one of whom is a younger man wearing a traditional Polish-Jewish cap. With Hebrew words: Am Keshei Oref (“A stiff-necked people.”) 33 x 19 inches.

A most atmospheric item clearly created by an artist comfortably familiar with Orthodox Jewish ritual and character. And yet it is difficult to determine for what purpose this artwork served, or indeed what actually is the narrative behind the three component parts. Having said that, all in all, it is a handsome, decorative and well designed piece.