A Richly Embroidered Torah Mantle, Italy, 18th century

A Richly Embroidered Torah Mantle, Italy, 18th century

The Jewish women of Italy took enormous pride in creating richly embroidered textiles for use in the synagogue. The Jewish community recognized these efforts with a special blessing recited every Sabbath morning commending “every daughter of Israel who makes a mantle or cover for the Torah.” The design of this Torah mantle maintains the traditional cloak-like form of Torah mantles produced in Italy, where luxurious fabrics were loosely gathered and draped softly around the scroll. Mantles of elegant white fabric were often dedicated for use specifically on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Physical Description

Silk and multicolored silk threads with a brocade ribbon. Height: 40 1/2 in.; 1015 mm.

Literature

Bracha Yaniv, Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles: From Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Italian Communities, trans. Yohai Goell (London: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2019), 129-141.