"Italian" Torah Mantle

Viscose, silk, leather
Hand painted and constructed
36 x 97 x 20 cm. (14" x 38" x 8")
Calligraphy by Ruth Stern Warzecha
Purchased by Beth Tzedec Sisterhood for Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum

On my first trip to Israel I was literally awestruck by seeing in the Israel Museum a Torah cover in the style typical of the Italian baroque era. Finally...a mantle which gave the Torah the aura of a bride or princess! And it already existed for 300 years!

The burnished colours of the Museum mantle were achieved by hand painting white fabric with aniline dyes.

When the mantle was purchased for the mu-seum, twenty-three leather pomegranates were inscribed and appliqued around the bor-der to honour 50 years of Sisterhood leaders

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