Property of a New York Private Collector
A LARGE AMERICAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER TORAH SHIELD, DATED 1896
Auction Closed
December 17, 06:59 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property of a New York Private Collector
A LARGE AMERICAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER TORAH SHIELD, DATED 1896
of arched rectangular form, the foliate chased pediment applied with a large gilt crown surmount adorned with bells and a bird finial, the center with two lions rampant flanking an ark that opens to reveal a Hebrew inscription above a window for portion plaques, flanked by topped by birds with spread wings, the back with inscribed names
apparently unmarked
height 12 in.
30.9 cm
The inscription inside the Tablets reads: “The Holy Society Roumanian American Chebrah Or Chodash 1896.” The back inscription lists names of the members of the Society.
The Roumanian American Chebrah Or Chodash was founded in Philadelphia in 1886 as a mutual aid society that also held prayer services. Together with Agudas Achim, it formed the Roumanian American Congregation Or Chodash-Agudas Achim with a home at 418 Spruce Street. The synagogue became known as the Great Roumanian Shul and drew its membership largely from Eastern European, particularly Roumanian, Jewish immigrants. As members began moving out of the neighborhood and into the suburbs, the original congregation declined. The building was subsequently purchased by a new congregation, Society Hill Synagogue, in 1966 and began holding services the following year, which it does down to the present day.