Miniature Torah scroll. [Poland, first half of the 19th century]. Placed in a gilt-embroidered velvet mantle. [Europe, ca. early 20th century].
Torah scroll, written in miniscule script, in the "Vavei HaAmudim" format, based on the contemporary Tikkun Soferim. Wound on rollers.
The scroll is cloaked in a green velvet mantle, bearing the gilt-embroidered letters Vav and Yud, a Star of David and foliate designs, as well as rhinestones. The mantle is edged with metallic bobbin lace. Openings for the rollers were cut into the top of the mantle, unskillfully edged and causing damage to lace. Drawstring at the bottom of the mantle; the mantle appears to have been made as a tefillin pouch, which was later converted to serve as Torah mantle.
Height of parchment: 13 cm. Height of rollers: approx. 30 cm. Mantle: 19X15.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Unskilled hand stitches and late machine stitches to velvet mantle. Threadbare areas. Damage and some loss to embroidery. Fracture (repaired with glue) at base of one roller.