Mid Century Bezalel Silver Hanukkah Lamp, Jerusalem, Israel

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Mid Century Bezalel Silver Hanukkah Lamp, Jerusalem, Israel:
$7500.00

A striking Mid-Century Bezalel silver Hanukkah lamp, made in Jerusalem, Israel, exemplifying the rich decorative language and symbolic depth associated with the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts.The lamp stands proudly on four spherical ball feet and is constructed around a deep, rectangular oil basin divided into eight individual compartments. Each compartment is square in form and fitted with a tapering circular wick spout, affixed to the front lip of the basin and extending downward into each oil well, combining functional clarity with sculptural elegance.The front and sides of the basin are richly embossed with repeating Stars of David, each centered with a turquoise stone set within its own bezel. Every star is framed within an arched architectural niche, flanked by twisted columns and surrounded by delicately pockmarked scrolling, lending the surface a lively, hand-worked texture.Rising from the back of the basin is an impressive silver backplate, centered by a large seven-branched menorah reminiscent of the Temple menorah, set against a finely hand-hammered ground. The menorah is enclosed within an arched border lined with small oblong motifs, while the upper corners feature rampant lions rendered in relief and framed in a similar decorative vocabulary. At the base of the menorah, flanking either side, are two medallions bearing early Hebrew-style motifs: one depicting the entrance to the Temple, the other an oil flask accompanied by a wheat stalk.Two large twisted columns frame the central composition, inscribed respectively with “בצלאל” (Bezalel) and “ירושלים” (Jerusalem). The capitals are formed as castellated crenellations, each topped with gadrooned domes, enhancing the architectural character of the piece. At the upper center of the backplate appears the Hebrew inscription “הנרות הללו קודש הם” (“These lights are sacred”), culminating in a bow-shaped pediment gloriously embossed with a central shell motif, flanked by foliate vines entwined with flowers and pomegranates.This exceptional Hanukkah lamp is notable for its scale, iconographic richness, and refined craftsmanship. Given Bezalel’s documented practice of producing bespoke and limited works, this piece was likely made as a special commission and may well represent a one-of-a-kind creation, embodying the spirit of early Israeli silverwork at its most ambitious and expressive.24.46ozt

Dimensions:Height: 8.08 in (20.5 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 2.17 in (5.5 cm)
Materials and class="_9ab89a9d" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 9px; line-height: 24px; list-style: none;">Place of Origin:Israel
Period:Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:1950's