A Dutch Brass Hanukah Lamp, 18th Century

The upper inscription reads: “Cantor Joseph de Isaac Sarphati.”

The lower inscription reads: “Isaac ben Moses Lopes Quiros.”

Joseph de Isaac Sarphati, “the sweet singer of Israel,” served as cantor for the Sephardic community of Amsterdam. In 5532 (1772), following his death, a competition was held in the community to replace him, with several candidates performing on successive Sabbaths, as memorialized in two manuscripts held by the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana in Amsterdam (Hs. Ros. Pl. B-5 and Hs. Ros. Pl. A-14). The ultimate winner was “the intelligent, insightful, charming lad” David de Emanuel da Silva, whose investiture took place on 6 Av 5532 (August 5, 1772).

The lamp’s second owner was Isaac ben Moses Lopes Quiros, who may be identified with the donor of a manuscript dated Shavuot 5643 (1883) to the Mehovevei ha-Mitsvot charitable society of Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Ets Haim Library Hs. EH 47 C 29). It is possible that he is the butcher whose genealogical details are given here: https://www.geni.com/people/Isaac-Lopes-Quiros/6000000023359711881?through=6000000018105862561.

Bibliography

Lajb Fuks and Renate G. Fuks-Mansfeld, Hebrew and Judaic Manuscripts in Amsterdam Public Collections, 2 vols. (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1973-1975), 1:148-149 (nos. 323-324), 2:52 (no. 105).