Existing comment:
Pieter Van Hoven
Torah Finial, 1705
The Old Testament's injunction against graven images meant that images were not used for worship by Jewish people. Nevertheless, in 17th-century Amsterdam where Judaism was tolerated, the decorative arts flourished, as seen in these Baroque-style Torah finials. These would have made a joyous sound as the Torah scroll was carried through the synagogue. |