Menorah Galleries Mounted Objects

A Small bronze figurine of two Jewish men with several stereotypical physical features commonly attributed to Jewish men: large noses, sidelocks, and beards. They are wearing caftans (kaftans) belted by wide sashes at the waist. A caftan is a long-sleeved, ankle-length coat with an open-cut at the front. Many Eastern Polish and Western Russian Jews began wearing caftans fastened with wide, oriental-style sashes in the late medieval period. The garb later spread to Central Europe, but in place of the sash, a cord was used to close the front of the garment instead. These garments were often worn by peddlers and itinerant vendors who traveled the countryside and sold goods to the public. However, old prejudices stemming from the economic and professional restrictions placed on early European Jews, along with Christians’ disdain for the professions Jews were allowed to practice, formed an antisemitic stereotype of the greedy Jew who exploited Gentiles. This canard was often visually depicted as a Jewish peddler...

Handmade silver Torah finials, chased, pierced, engraved, and cast, France, circa 1860. The finials are constructed with large open-work decorated ball ...

Silver and gold Torah crown, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1925. On silver base decorated with a small gold Stars of David. The lower ribs decorated with applie...

Boris Schatz Bronze Plaque In high relief, expertly cast bronze. Depicting bearded men on the floor of the Synagogue reading kinnot (sad poems / elegies),...