Elegant set comprising a "tallit" (prayer shawl) bag ("sakara di-tzitzit") and matching "tefillin" (phylacteries) bag ("sakara di- tefillin"), presented on the occasion of the bar mitzvah of the young man, Shlomo ben Yehudah Ouleil. [Northern Morocco, probably Tangier, early 20th century].
Velvet, cotton, and satin fabrics; metal-thread embroidery in a wide range of shades and styles of craftsmanship; sequins; cardboard cutout; beads sewn over with gilt metal thread and silver metal thread; coral beads.
Exquisitely elegant set comprising two rectangular bags: a large bag for the "tallit" (prayer shawl) and a smaller one for the "tefillin" (phylacteries). Both with opening at upper edge, tied shut with cord. Bags with matching inscriptions, embroidered in gilt metal thread just above the lower edges, giving the name of the young recipient: "Shlomo bar Yehudah ben Ouleil may his Rock and Redeemer protect him" on the tallit bag, and simply "Shlomo Ouleil" on the smaller tefillin bag.
Both bags are richly and intricately adorned with gilt arabesques over a dark green background. At their center, on the front surface, both bags bear a three-dimensional metal-thread ornament: a fancy dangling tassel on the tallit bag, and a small, button-like ornament on the tefillin bag. A pair of identical large, fancy tassels also dangles from the ends of the tying cords; these are made of gilt metal and silver metal thread, masterfully interwoven by means of a wide range of techniques and inlaid with decorative beads, some made of fabric and metal thread, and others consisting of pieces of coral.
Strings of coral can sometimes serve as ornaments on amulets; in this context, they are ascribed supernatural attributes and are believed to protect and safeguard against all manner of evil.
We have no knowledge of any similar sets of matching bags, originating from North Africa.

Large (tallit) bag: 32X25 cm; thickness: 1.5 cm; length of cords: 36 cm. Smaller (tefillin) bag: 18X14.5 cm; thickness: 1 cm; length of cords: approx. 33 cm. Good condition. Minor blemishes.

Reference:
1. Jewish Life in Morocco, edited by Aviva Müller-Lancet. Jerusalem, the Israel Museum, 1983, pp. 101-105 (Hebrew).
2. Shimmering Gold: the splendor of gold embroided textile, by Nitza Behroozi BarOz and Gania Dolev. Tel Aviv, the Eretz Israel Museum, 2007, p. 123 and p.130, items 71 and 72 (Hebrew).
3. Lots of luck: Jewish Amulets and Ritual Objects, edited by Yael Wiesel and Sara Shahak. Ashdod, the Museum of Philistine Culture, 2013, p. 60 (Hebrew).
4. Leaving, Never to Return!, curated by Dana Avrish. Tel Aviv, Eretz Israel Museum, 2019, p. 28 (Hebrew).
5. Jodendom: een boek vol verhalen. Amsterdam, De Nieuwe Kerk, 2011-2012.
Provenance:
1. Sotheby's, Tel Aviv, 17 April, 2001, lot no. 338.
2. The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 047.027.003, 018.047.005.