Hanukkah lamp. Tétouan, Morocco, [late 19th or early 20th century].
Brass sheet, cut, shaped, and engraved; cast brass, engraved and soldered, and chased.
The back plate is adorned and decorated with symmetrical vegetal patterns, in openwork. At the center of the back plate is a pattern representing the seven-branched Menorah. Above the Menorah is the Hebrew inscription “The seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick” (Numbers, 8:2), surmounted by a Star of David. Flanking the base of the Menorah on either side are a pair of pitchers bearing the inscriptions “Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in”; “… and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out” (both included in Deuteronomy, 28:6). On either side of the top of the Menorah is a pair of birds. Lining the left and right edges of the back plate are a pair of spiraling architectonic columns with capitals tapering upward. The row of oil fonts is attached to the front of the bottom of the back plate, above the drip pan which serves as the base of the lamp. The side panels are adorned with matching symmetrical openwork vegetal patterns. Lamp surmounted by suspension ring.
For comparison, see: Chaya Benjamin, North African Lights, the Israel Museum, 2003, English-language edition, pp. 48-51.

Height: 29.5 cm. Maximal width: 24 cm. Good condition. Minor warping and blemishes. Soldering repairs. Attachments slightly loose. Some original hinges and pins missing, newer screws and pins later inserted in their place.

PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.