Three Torah pointers. Tunisia, [20th century].
Silver, cast and engraved; copper, cast and engraved.
1. Silver (with Tunisian hallmark). Movable upper joint, attached by hinge. Upper portion of handle cylindrical; lower portion flat, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Engraved vegetal patterns on one side, and engraved Hebrew dedicatory inscription (using abbreviations) on the other: "Sanctified to the Almighty, to the [peaceful] rest of […] Yosef Hai Eljin, may his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life." Length: 26 cm.
2. [Tafilalt Region]. Upper segment decorated. Upper portion of handle rectangular and lower portion cylindrical. Hand clenched, with long, gently flexed index finger and with cuffed wrist. Hebrew dedicatory inscription (using abbreviations): "Sanctified in honor of the Holy Torah, Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yohai, may his virtue protect us / to the Yeshiva […], gift of Señor David son of Dinon, may the lord protect him and maintain him / and his wife, Señora Rahel…, by the Rabbi, the Emissary… Rabbi Shemuel Ben Hayyim, may the Almighty maintain him and protect him." Length: 24 cm.
3. Upper portion of handle cylindrical and lower portion flat, tapering toward wrist. Hand clenched, with thumb pointing sideways, with long, gently flexed index finger, and with cuffed wrist. Vegetal patterns engraved on wide part of handle, along with dedicatory inscription (Hebrew and French), on both sides. Hebrew: "To the [peaceful] rest of Beiya Touitou, may she rest in Eden, on the Day of the New Month of Elul, Year 5705 [1945], may her soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life." / French: "Beithe Touito Decedee Le 8 Août 1945 à l'Age de 28 Ans" [Beithe Touito, passed away August 1945 at the age of 28]. Above the French dedicatory inscription is a copper plaque bearing the initials of the deceased woman, "BT." Length: 23.5 cm.

Hanukkah lamp. Tunisia (or Algeria), [19th century].
Brass, cast and punched; rivets.
Arched back plate, openwork, featuring eight horseshoe-arch gates, a vase with flowers, vegetal-style "windows," and two encircled stars. Back plate surmounted by additional encircled star, flanked by a pair of large birds on either side. Vegetal openwork side panels, surmounted by an additional pair of birds. Plain surface. Row of elongated rectangular oil fonts with pinched, pointed spouts for wicks. Servant light adorned with four projecting spikes.
According to Mordechai Narkiss (see below), the design of this type of Hanukkah lamp bears the influence of Algerian architecture of the Ottoman period, as well as Algerian Islamic art. Please refer also to next item.
Height: 23 cm. Width: 22 cm. Good condition. Minor soldering repairs.
References: North African Lights, item no. 119; The Hanukkah Lamp, pl. LV, item no. 155; Feuchtwanger Collection, item no. 384.
Purchased in Djerba.

Hanukkah lamp. Tunisia (or Algeria), [19th century].
Brass, cast and punched; rivets.
Small Hanukkah lamp. Openwork. Back plate features vase with flowers at center, above row of five horseshoe-arch gates. Surmounted by clover-like ornament, flanked by a pair of large birds. Each side panel with "window" in form of horseshoe-arch gate, and surmounted by hand-shaped ornament ("hamsa"). Surface decorated with circlets. Row of elongated rectangular oil fonts with pinched, pointed spouts for wicks. Stylized servant light attached to back plate, just below apex.
Height: 13 cm. Width: 11.5 cm. Good condition.
References: North African Lights, item no. 122 (from the Stieglitz Collection); The Stieglitz Collection: Masterpieces of Jewish Art, item no. 177; The Hanukkah Lamp, pl. LV, item no. 154.
Purchased in Tunis, Tunisia, November 2005.

Large Hannukah lamp – folk art. Djerba, Tunisia, [early decades of 20th century].
Iron, cut and shaped; rivets; paint; glass goblet.
Composed of thin iron strips, some shaped to form a row of rings, painted white. Back plate triangular, surmounted at apex by hand-shaped ornament ("hamsa"), fastened by rivets. Row of eight rings projecting forward from bottom axis of triangle and an additional ring (for servant light) attached to back plate, meant to hold goblets serving as oil fonts. Blue glass goblet included.
Height: 40 cm. Width: 46 cm. Good condition. Minor blemishes.
Reference: North African Lights, items nos. 114-15.
Purchased in Djerba.

Two Hanukkah lamps – folk art. Djerba, Tunisia, [20th century].
Sheet metal, cut and shaped; rivets.
1. Arched back plate, surmounted by three cutout metal images of fish, riveted to back plate. Row of triangular oil fonts, supported by three legs. Oil font for servant light attached to upper middle of back plate. Suspension hole.
Fish appear as decorative elements on many items originating from Djerba. Among other things, they were believed to act as safeguarding or protective charms. Height: 17 cm. Width: 27 cm.
2. Back plate shaped like triangle with rounded angles. Surmounted by frilly ornament, flanked on either side by pair of large birds. Row of reeded oil fonts with pinched spouts for wicks, soldered to broad drip pan. Oil font for servant light attached to back plate just below apex, in middle. Height: 14 cm. Width: 23 cm.
Condition varies. Minor fractures and warping. Rust and old soldering repairs.
Purchased in Djerba.