Torah shield. [Europe, late 19th century?].
Repoussé, punched and engraved silver (marked).
Cartouche-shaped plate. In the center are the Tablets of the Law (engraved), supported by two roaring lions surmounting vegetal motifs. Beneath the Tablets is an opening for changeable plaques and beneath it is a vegetal decoration and a cartouche (engraved, inscription unclear). At the top of the shield is a crown surmounting curtains and fringes. On the right and left margins are pairs of roaring lion heads. The surface is punched with tiny dots. On the reverse are three loops and a chain for hanging.
We know of similar shields created in Vienna in the late 19th century, but this shield was possibly created in Romania.
Length: 32 cm, width: 25 cm. Good condition. Missing plaques.
See: Crowning Glory, Silver Torah Ornaments of the Jewish Museum, New York, by Rafi Grafman (New York, 1996), items 113-115.