Subject: Jewish art

A die-cut decoration, likely used to embellish Jewish New Year's greeting cards. Dating from circa 1890s to 1900, this piece reflects a style popular in the later 19th century. While similar imagery was prevalent in Christian art forms depicting the stages of life from roughly 1840-1880, this example represents a parallel yet distinct aesthetic within Jewish artistic traditions. The item is part of Manuscript Collection 1410, located in Out-of-Storage, Box 5, Folder 2.

Glass bead crewel work depicting a menorah with candles on a table, alongside a prayer book. The background features a gold wall with green vines, and the table is covered with a red cloth. The artwork is undated, but based on style, is likely from the early 20th century.

A colored papercut artwork depicting lions, birds, and trees. The artwork is signed by Ludwig Goldstein and dated June 12, 1897. The inscription also includes the phrase "To Winne White for good teaching;...NY boy and girl." The art of papercutting is believed to be the quintessential expression of European Jewish folk art. Eastern European Jewish papercuts assumed many different forms and exhibited a wealth of themes and motifs, to fit a wide range of purposes. They were used as "Mizrah" and "Shiviti" plaques; "Yahrzeit" plaques; "Shir HaMa'alot" plaques, believed to give protection to childbearing mothers and newborns; "roizalakh" (rose-shaped ornaments) to decorate the household during the Shavuot holiday; "Ushpizin" plaques for the holiday of Sukkot; and other forms of items.

Watercolor painting of an Arab. The artwork is torn into three pieces but complete. It is signed, but the signature is illegible. The watercolor was found with the Tobias Collection and is circa 1870.

Watercolor painting depicting a rabbi holding a Torah. The painting is undated, but the donor suggests a date of around 1950.