Torah scroll. [Tunis, 18th/19th century]. Placed in a case, with a pair of finials and a pointer. [Iraq or Iran, first decades of the 20th century].
Velvet-covered wood; silver and sheet silver, repoussé, cast, engraved and soldered; paper; parchment; ink.
The Torah scroll is written on parchment, in a script characteristic of Tunis, 19th century (see enclosed expert's report).
The case is lined with crimson velvet and adorned with three belts of sheet silver attached with rivets. The middle belt has a repoussé of floral ornamentation and the two flanking belts bear inscriptions of dedication: "This case and its Torah scroll were made by the woman Vatzha daughter of Shimon Avraham Nissim [… 1936?]", "It is written that wherever the owners of the Torah scroll wish to take and place it, they are allowed to do so". Attached along the top edges of the case is a silver "wall" made like roses. The top of the case is crowned with a silver-plated finial with bells. Paper sheets are pasted on the inside of the case, with a dedication almost identical to the dedication inscribed on the belts (one is placed behind a pane, another bearing the name of the donor is mostly lacking), surrounded with colored paper strips. The inside of the case is lined with a (late) floral-patterned green synthetic fabric. A small silver hook which locks the case is attached on the outside.
A pair of finials adorned with chains with dangling bells sit atop the case, with engraved dedications: "Eliyahu Mizrahi, died 15th Tevet 1914", "For the soul of Sedera daughter of Zaki Natan".
A simple silver unadorned pointer is enclosed with the Torah scroll.
Height of the parchment membranes of the Torah scroll: 48 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Damage, tears and holes in a number of places.
Height of case: 100 cm, diameter: 28 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Dents, breaks and lacking breaks to silver ornamentation. Unravelling, open tears and damage to velvet lining. The inner fabric lining is unprofessionally glued to the case and its edges are cut and unfinished. The left paper sheet is damaged and mostly lacking. The colored paper strips are damaged and lacking. A (new) small metal plate is nailed onto the top of the case.
Height of finials: approx. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Corrosion. Dents. Breaks. Soldering repairs. Lacking and torn chains and lacking bells.
Pointer: 28 cm. Good condition. Dents.