Photo © IMJ, by David Harris, Peter Lanyi, Zev Radovan, Nahum Slapak, Mariana Zalzberger |
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Gold-glass base
Rome 4th century CE Blown glass and gold leaf Diam: 11.7; Th 0.7 cm Acquired in 1966 through the generosity of Jakob Michael, New York, in memory of his wife, Erna Sondheimer Michael; restituted in 2008 to the heirs to the Dzialynska Collection, Goluchow Castle, Poland, owners prior to World War II; acquired in 2008 by Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn, Zurich, and now on extended loan to the Israel Museum Accession number: 2008.22/1 |
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This object, from the Jewish catacombs of Rome, is made from two layers of translucent glass encasing gold leaf. It is actually the base of a vessel, which was probably used in funerary banquets. After the walls of the vessel were intentionally broken, the base was affixed near a burial niche as a tomb marker.
The base depicts a Torah Ark, its doors open wide to reveal three shelves of scrolls. The ark is accompanied by Jewish symbols: the menorah (seven-branched candelabrum), lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), and shofar (ram’s horn). Publications: Israeli, Yael, Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum: The Eliahu Dobkin Collection and Other Gifts, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel, 2003, English / Hebrew Zalmona, Yigal, ed., The Israel Museum at 40: Masterworks of Beauty and Sanctity, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2005 The Israel Museum, Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2005 Beauty and Sanctity: the Israel Museum at 40. A Series of Exhibitions Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2006 Exhibition: The Beauty of Sanctity: Masterworks from Every Age, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Spring-Summer 2005 Digital presentation of this object was made possible by: The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir |
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