A Bezalel damascened box in the form of Rachel's tomb, Abraham Baradon, Jerusalem, 1915

damascened in silver and copper in the form of the Tomb, decorated with a bas-relief of a greiving Rachel, and bands of menorahs spaced by flowerheads, the back with a four line inscription framed by strapwork, one end with silver roundels depicting the twelve tribes, the other with an abstracted menorah design, base chased with signature ABRAHAM.BARADON and JERUSALEM.FEBB.1915

good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The depiction of Rachel weeping was inspired by Jeremiah 31:14 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children; She refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not."

Abraham Asher Baradon (?-1949) studied at Bezalel from 1906, working in the carpet-weaving department, then headed the Damascene department from 1909.  He established Mahshevet in 1920. His work is represented in the Israel Museum (Bezalel 1906-1929, ed. Nurit Shilo-Cohen, p.366).  Of the Damascene work produced by Bezalel, Schatz noted in a 1917 lecture, later published in 1919 in "Al ha-Industria HaBeitit', that "Our work was not just on par with that done in Damascus but actually surpassed it... Liberty , the well known firm, made a special contract to be our sole distributor in England even though our price is three times that of Damascus where it had previously purchased" (Nurit Shilo-Cohen, ed. Bezalel 1906-1929, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1985, p. 172)