August Ferdinand Gentzmer (?), Torah Finials, Silver: chased, cast, and parcel-gilt, 1788-1802
Object Name:
Torah Finials
Bio:
active 1789-1808
Place Made:
Berlin (Germany)
Date:
1788-1802
Medium:
Silver: chased, cast, and parcel-gilt
Dimensions:
a: 18 3/16 × 4 1/4 in. (46.2 × 10.8 cm) b: 17 15/16 × 4 1/4 in. (45.6 × 10.8 cm)
Credit Line:
Gift of the Danzig Jewish Community
Accession Number:
D 184a-b

Not On View

The two-storey-tower forms of these rimmonim rise from plain shafts each of which terminates in an echinus whose bottom is covered with leaves and whose upper section is pierced by cut-out forms. Both stages of the graduated towers are cubic with beveled edges. Each face is decorated with swags of leaves and cut-outs which surround an open arch in which hangs a pendant, parcel-gilt bell. A spool-shaped intermediate zone decorated with similar motifs connects the two stages. Parcel-gilt openwork crowns surmounted by double finials top the towers. Each shaft is engraved ("B[urial] S[ociety] o[f the] h[oly] c[ongregation of] Schottland.")
Though the mark AG is not recorded by Scheffler or Rosenberg, stylistic similarities between these rimmonim and other works by Gentzmer in the Danzig collection suggest that he was the master. The cubic stages decorated with cut-outs, pendant-bells and swags of leaves can also be seen on another pair of rimmonim bearing Gentzmer's usual hallmark. Characteristic of all the silver by this master in the Danzig collection is the use of contrasting colored metal as an effective part of the design.

Information may change as a result of ongoing research.

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