Large soccer cup. [Israel, late 1940s or early 1950s].
Cast, silvered brass; hammered and silvered tin brass; aluminum; wood.
Large, "travelling" cup (transferred every year to a different winner), awarded to the winner of a soccer championship. On its front is a plaque with the Hebrew inscription "Travelling soccer cup, in memory of Shimshon (Dov Cohen), commander of the Acre Jail Break-In".
Screwed onto the cup cover is a unique and interesting artistic casting depicting a muscular Etzel warrior, holding a scroll in one hand and, with the other, waving the Etzel emblem. The emblem shows a map of Greater Israel and a hand holding a gun.
Dov Cohen ("Shimshon", 1915-1947), born in Poland, immigrated to Palestine in 1936 and joined the Etzel. During World War II he enlisted in the British Army, volunteered to join a commando unit, and fought the Italians in Ethiopia. Following his discharge he resumed activities with the Etzel and participated in numerous battles. Cohen was killed during the retreat from Acre Jail, on 4 May 1947, after Etzel forces succeeded in breaking through the jail walls and setting free 27 Etzel and Lehi prisoners and about 180 Arab prisoners.
Maximal length: 93 cm, length of figure: 35.5 cm. Maximal width: 46 cm. Good overall condition. Screwed onto an aluminum base (not original) that is screwed onto a wooden base. Some corrosion and bends. Two large handles.