"Torah crowns" – Pair of Torah finials. Afghanistan, 5694 [1934].
Silver, cut, cast, and engraved.
Each of these "Torah crowns" is surmounted by a large, flat Star-of-David ornament decorated in vegetal patterns. The center of each Star of David forms a hexagonal frame which encloses, on one side of each finial, illustrations featuring domed buildings above and below a central horizontal band bearing the Hebrew inscription "Keter Torah" ("Torah Crown"), and, on the other side, the Hebrew dedicatory inscription "On the third day of the week, the month of Tevet 5694 [1934], Shimeon son of Ya'akov, may he rest in Eden, passed away" alongside illustrations depicting the Western Wall. At the base of each Star of David is a crescent-shaped ornament over a dome, with chains bearing pendant bells suspended from its rims. Long, hollow cylindrical shafts.
In Afghanistan, the Torah case would be flat-topped. Projecting upward from the top would be six rods, to support three pairs of Torah finials: two of these rods – which would serve as the upper handles of the rollers – would support flat "Torah crown" finials of the present type, while the other rods would support regular, sphere-shaped finials.
Height: 34.5 cm. Good condition.
Reference: Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home, p. 23, items nos. 23-24.