Sotheby’s to hold annual sale of Important Judaica New York, New York – On December 17, 2008 Sotheby’s New York will hold its annual sale of Important Judaica,
comprising important manuscripts, books, ceremonial metalwork, carpets and textiles, and p
News-Antique.com - Dec 05,2008 - New York, New York – On December 17, 2008 Sotheby’s New York will hold its annual sale of Important Judaica,
comprising important manuscripts, books, ceremonial metalwork, carpets and textiles, and paintings. Highlights from
the sale include an Extraordinary Silver Sabbath Hanging Lamp (est. $600/800,000*), a rare set of illustrations by
Ze’ev Raban of the Passover Haggadah (est. $180/220,000), a selection of reliefs by the founder of the Bezalel
School of Art, Boris Schatz, and important Jewish carpets from the esteemed collection of Anton Felton. The 168 lots
included in the sale will be on exhibition alongside important Hebrew manuscripts and rare printed books from the
Delmonico Collection of Important Judaica and the annual sale of Israeli and International Art beginning December 11.
Press Release New York For Immediate Release
New York | +1 212 606 7176 | Lauren Gioia | Lauren.Gioia@Sothebys.com | Blair Hance | Blair.Hance@Sothebys.com
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Boris Schatz, Samson and Delilah, 1905 (est.
The sale will feature an Extraordinary Silver Sabbath Hanging Lamp from Augsburg, Germany by Gottfried
Barterman, 1761-63 (est. $600/800,000). Though some Dutch, Italian and English examples of Sabbath Lamps
are known, this intricately detailed hanging lamp is exceptionally rare in silver – most examples were created in brass.
Comprising oil fonts arranged in a star, the work is known in German as Judenstern, or “Jewish Star,” and bears an
original presentation inscription. Also highlighted among the silver offerings will be a Magnificent Pair of Early
English Parcel-Gilt Silver Large Baroque Torah Finials by William Spackman, London, 1719 (est.
$300/500,000), from the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia – one of Sydney’s most historic structures and
congregations.
Also included will be an extremely rare set of illustrations by Ze'ev Raban of the
Passover Haggadah (est. $180/220,000). Created in Jerusalem in 1925,
these romanticized watercolors blend biblical history with the aesthetic ideology
proposed by the Bezalel School of Art. In 1912, Ze’ev Raban emigrated from
Poland to Palestine, where he quickly involved himself in the development of the
emerging state and was invited by Boris Schatz to join the Bezalel School of Arts
and Crafts. The prolific artist devoted himself to the awakening of Hebrew art in
Palestine and created among his many works groups of bible illustrations such as
the present lot. The illustrations for the Passover Haggadah demonstrate the
artist’s dexterity in bridging a wide scope of influence and ideas, the result of
which is a coherent, exquisite work which summons a rich past and vivid present
of a people committed to their faith and to renewed national identity.
Boris Schatz, the founder and Director of the Bezalel School of
Art in Jerusalem, is represented by a number of reliefs that are
being sold by the artist's estate. Among these is an exceptional
terra cotta representation of the artist and his estranged wife
Genia, depicted as the protagonists in the epic biblical narrative,
Samson and Delilah (est. $30/50,000). Schatz, likening
himself to Samson as victim to a woman's betrayal, sculpted this in
Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1905, a
