Embroidered multicolored silk thread on linen, with lace trim.

ELABORATE EMBROIDERED SABBATH TABLECLOTH

Jerusalem, 1909

Featuring large central roundel featuring the Temple Mount and Western Wall surrounded by the verse “Ben Porat Yosef” (Genesis 49:22). Outer ring with numerous detailed vignettes featuring Holy Places of Eretz Israel (17 in all) including the burial sites of: R. Meir Ba’al HaNess, Hulda the prophetess, Sanncherib, Rachel, Kings of the House of David, Shimon, Zachariah, Avshalom, Samuel, Haggai, Cave of Machpelah, Rabbi Solomon Luria (the Ari) etc. Outer textual border provides the entire text of the Friday evening song: “Shalom Aleichem…” Stained. 47 x 47 inches (119 x 119 cm). For a similar (but earlier) example sold at auction, see Sotheby’s, The Michael & Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection, April 29th, 2013, Lot 302. For related literature see: A Group of Embroidered Cloths from Jerusalem, in the Journal of Jewish Art, Vol. 2, (1973) pp. 28-41; R.D. Barnett, Catalogue of the Jewish Museum London (1974) pp. 71-2; Michael E. Keen, Jewish Ritual Art in the Victoria & Albert Museum (1991) p. 65; Israel Museum Catalogue, Amanut Ve’omanut Be’eretz Yisrael (1979) pp. 153-55.