Torah shield. Italy, [Late 18th century].
Cut silver sheet, repoussé and engraved (unmarked); iron sheet.
Crown-shaped Torah shield, bearing ornaments in the form of acanthus leaves and scallop seashells, characteristic of Rococo-style art. At its base, it is inscribed with the Hebrew words "Sefer Rishon" ("First Book"). On the reverse side are a pair of rings to which the suspension chain is attached. The back of this Torah shield is reinforced with a plate of sheet iron, attached with five sets of nuts and bolts. Crown-shaped Torah shields are peculiar to the Jewish communities of Italy and the Balkans and are termed "half-crowns" to distinguish them from the ornaments known as Torah crowns, which are placed on top of Torah scrolls.
The Moldovan Family Collection includes a similar Torah shield, originating from Ancona, Italy, and dated 1792 (see: A Mirror of Jewish Life: A Selection from The Moldovan Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 1999, item no. 48).
For similar items, see: Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item no. 37212 (Gross Family Collection); and the Israel Museum Collection, item no. B50.06.2642.

Height: 15.5 cm (incl. chain: 45 cm). Width: 26 cm. Good condition. Minor warping and cracks. Handwritten inscription on back: "No 118".