Moshe Murro, copper plaque with a relief of the figures of three elderly Jews and a young Jew, with Rachel's Tomb in the background.
Signed: "M. Murro", in Hebrew and in English.
7.5X12 cm. Good condition. Stains. Mounted on metal plate, 14X18 cm, engraved with the inscription: "At the Tomb of Rachel" (in Hebrew and in English). Suspension loop on verso.

Silk carpet with the figures of Moses and Aaron, the Binding of Isaac and the Western Wall. Kashan, Persia (Iran). [1880s]. Dated 1865/1866.
The central part of the carpet is designed as a gate with pillars on both its sides. Within the gates are images of Moses and Aaron, the Binding of Isaac, Abraham and Isaac and their servants on the way to the Binding, and the Western Wall. Separating between the different images are bands with inscriptions, verses and liturgical verses in Hebrew, related to the scenes. Under the image of the Western Wall, the Hebrew reads "Kashan 1865/66 Western Wall…". Above the gate is a medallion with the inscription "Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh" (Jerusalem, City of Holiness). A wide frame on the margins of the carpet is decorated with geometric and vegetal patterns.
Such carpets, presenting a series of themes including the Western Wall, were often used as a "Shiviti", hence the inscription on the upper part of the carpet.
Many carpets of this kind were woven in Kashan, and often enough the weavers copied the images, including the date on the carpet which was used as a sample. Therefore, the date appearing on the carpet does not definitely serve as evidence for the year of its creation.
133X205 cm. Good condition. Slight wear and unravelling. Suspension straps are sewn to the margin of the carpet, on the back. Stain on bottom left corner of the carpet.
Literature: Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997. Item no. 2.
Provenance: Collection of Anton Felton.

Silk carpet with a portrait of Moses. [Kashan (Iran), 1930s].
Moses is seen holding a stick in one hand and the Tablets of the Law in the other hand. A crown is seen on the top right corner with the inscription "Keter Torah" above it.
The image of Moses is a common motif in Jewish art objects created in the Persian Region and in the Levant. Such carpets, depicting the image of Moses on almost the entire surface, are often outstanding in their colorful simplicity.
53.5X73 cm. Good condition. Some unravelling and some defects at edges. A suspension band is sewn on the back.
Literature: Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997. Item no. 20.
Provenance: Collection of Anton Felton.

Carpet with images from the Song of Songs, [woven by "Marvadiah" after a design by Ya'akov Kanterovitz]. [Jerusalem, 1920s].
Under a canopy of a tall palm tree bisecting a blue field, and so hinting at the outline of the Tablets of the Law, the main panel displays a rich panoply of intertwining flora and fauna – deer, ibex, turtledove, peacock and crane appear amongst vines and flowers. The main border displays peacocks and clusters of grapes. The two guard strips are inscribed with Hebrew, the outermost of these repeats the words "Song of Songs" whilst the inner strip recites the verse "Hanizanim Niru Ba'aretz…" ("The blossoms have appeared in the land…") from the Song of Songs.
The "Marvadiah" workshop was founded in 1920, as a successor to Bezalel where the carpet-weaving department had been led by Ya'akov Kanterovitz. Kanterovitz also managed "Marvadiah," and designed this carpet.
141X94 cm. Good condition. Slight unraveling and some wear. A cloth band for suspension is sewn at the top margin on the back of the carpet.
Literature: Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997. Item no. 26.
Provenance: Collection of Anton Felton.