Veil Of Synagogue Or Torah Ark Curtain
date: label: Accession Date
content: 1893
label: Collection Date
content: 1893
name: label: Donor Name
content: World's Columbian Exposition
notes: label: Notes
content: A TORAH ARK CURTAIN PURCHASED FOR AND EXHIBITED IN THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION (CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR), 1893. GRACE COHEN GROSSMAN (1997) DATES THIS TO OTTOMAN TURKEY, LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY. SEE PUBLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. This torah ark curtain is visible hanging on the wall on display in a photo taken at the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) of 1893, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 64, Folder 08, Image No. SIA_000095_B64_F08_016, "Interior view, Smithsonian Institution and United States National Museum exhibits in the United States Government Building, featuring Division of Oriental Antiquities and Department of Arts and Industries collection of musical instruments";https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_400504 .
label: Notes
content: Illustrated in Grossman, Grace Cohen and Richard Eighme Ahlborn, 1997, "Judaica at the Smithsonian: Cultural Politics as Cultural Model" Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology. Vol. 52, p. 124
label: Notes
content: From cards: "Illust. in USNM Rept., 1896; Pl. 16; p. 994, also in Proceedings, USNM, Vol. 34 (1908), Pl. 64, p. 746, also Bull. 148, USNM: Pl. 1; p. 204. Loaned to B'nai B'rith Mus. 10-6-78. Returned 7/23/79. Loaned to Renwich 5/6/82. Returned. Illus. p. 36, Pl. 024a, Celebrations catalogue, Smithsonian Press, 1982. [Froms Celebrations catalogue:] Torah Ark Curtain (parokhet), late 19th century. Istanbul, Turkey. Velvet, gold and silver mettalic-thread embroidery. 110 [in.] x 72 1/2 (279.4 x 184.2). A torah is kept behind a curtain like this one in the Holy Ark of many synagogues. The border of this curtain is decorated with floral motifs, which are associated with the tree of life (Proverbs 3:19). The lamp in the center represents the eternal light that is suspended before the Holy Ark. In the four corners are inscribed the names of four angels: Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Michael. At the top are the following quotations: But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20). I have set the Lord always before me (Psalms 16:8). and at the sides: Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in (Isaiah 26:2). This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter (Psalms 118:20). This particular ark curtain is one of the finest existing examples from the Near East. It was made in Istanbul in the late nineteenth century."
label: Record Last Modified
content: 8 Nov 2024
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Turkey (Türkiye)
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Jewish
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 026818
label: USNM Number
content: E154758-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Torah Ark Curtain