Auction 28 - Objects - Judaica, Ceremonial Art and Israeliana

Large Elaborate "Parochet" – Austro-Hungary, 1864 – Frankel Family

Opening: $25,000
Unsold
"Parochet" (Torah ark curtain). Pressburg, 1864.
Fabric decorated with blue and brown velour; silver embroidery; various metal ornamentations. Large elaborate "parochet". At the top is a large crown, under which is inscribed the Hebrew initials of a Torah crown in a stylish frame. In the center of the "parochet", embroidered with silver thread on blue velvet is an oval inscription: "This was donated / In honor of G-d and in honor of his Torah / And in honor of the holy and awesome Day of Judgement / The lofty R' Shmuel Leib Frankel / In memory of his dear ancestors who rest in Eden / His honored and praiseworthy father R' Wolf / and his honored and praiseworthy mother Ms. Ruchama / With his wife Woman of Valor Ms. Gittel / daughter of the deceased R' Leib Weiner / And her honored modest mother Ms. Hendel / And for everlasting memory of her renowned maternal grandfather / Tzaddik and exalted, his name is honored and his glory, who served for some years / Dayan in our community, Rabbi Shalom Fried / in 1864". The inscription appears inside a large square frame with impressive decorations, embroidered in silver threads in plant and geometric patterns combined with other fabric and metal decorations. In 1905, the "parochet" was renewed, as written on the bottom: "Renewed / by their children / R' Wolf, R' Chaim and R' Ezriel / 1905. The top is decorated with 12 Stars of David and the bottom with 11 Stars of David.
Rabbi Shalom Fried [Fiorda], mentioned as Ms. Gittel Frankel's grandfather "Renowned tzaddik and exalted his name is honored and his glory", is Rabbi Moshe Shalom Segal Frankel, who was dayan in Pressburg (mentioned in the Chatam Sofer responsa "And Rabbi Shalom Fiorda Dayan here in our community showed me…"); also mentioned in the notebook recording those circumcised by the Chatam Sofer, "The boy Yissachar called Berman son of Leib Weiner son-in-law of Rabbi Shalom Fiorda" (see: persons in the Chatam Sofer responsa, pp. 307-308).
138X248 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears to light-colored fabric. Most of the embroidery is in good condition. The fabric on the reverse side has been renewed.
Fabric items and Garments
Fabric items and Garments