Subject: Silverwork

Coin silver circumcision shield with a decorative design and the name "E. Rosengarten" on one side. The reverse side bears the Hebrew date "5619" (1859/60). A rare example of a mid-19th-century Jewish-American ritual object. Exhibited in "Tolerance and Identity: Jews in Early New York 1654-1825" at the Museum of the City of New York (May-December 2005), curated by Dr. Debra Waters. Also displayed at the opening of the Museum of American Jewish Heritage in Philadelphia (2010-2011) and in a Jewish history exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York (May-December 2005).

Coin-silver soup ladle made by Solomon Ralph Biesenthal of Louisville, Kentucky (1829-1903). Engraved “Remember Jetta Gerstley.” Marked: “SRBiesenthal Louisville.” The ladle is dated circa 1854, based on Jetta Gerslet's marriage to Solomon Schoenfeld in 1854. The style of the ladle correlates with the mid-19th century. The inscription is a loving reminder to the bride of her former identity. There's no indication the couple remained in Louisville; a Jetty Schoenfeld died in Brooklyn, New York in 1902. The object's provenance is from the private collection of S & B B of VA, patrons and purveyors of Virginia and early Southern material culture. Additional information about the maker, Solomon Ralph Biesenthal, his life in Louisville, Kentucky, and the socio-economic context of Jewish silversmiths in the antebellum American South is included in the accompanying documentation.

Set of five coin silver teaspoons made by Solomon Ralph Biesenthal of Louisville, Kentucky (1829-1903). Engraved "MF." Marked: "SRBiesenthal." The teaspoons are dated circa 1854. The style correlates with the middle 19th century. Accompanied by an article, "Kentucky's Unknown Story of Jewish Silver," by Gary Dean Gardner, which details the life and work of Biesenthal, including his struggles with antisemitism and financial hardship in antebellum Louisville. The article also discusses the broader context of Jewish silversmiths in the American South and the limited historical documentation available on this community.

Silver and champlevé enamel figural (bird) scent bottle with wings of carnelian that open and are inscribed in Hebrew. Under one wing is a silver lion and under the other is a piece of spice in glass. It is believed this was used for Havdalah service. Circa 1885.

Silver filigree mezuzah (2-3/4") with a hinged top and intact parchment scroll. Stamped in Hebrew with "Bezalel, Jerusalem." This piece is an early example of Bezalel art, exhibiting characteristics of the Yemenite style. A similar mezuzah sold at Sotheby's NYC Auction on December 7, 1984 (#229) for $660. The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, founded in 1903 by Boris Schatz, is Israel's national school of art. Its style combined Jewish, Middle Eastern, and European traditions. The school's craftsmen were often members of the Yemenite community, known for their metalwork traditions.

Silver teaspoon, engraved with the initials "A B" and the hallmark "H. HYMAN, RHD." This is teaspoon #3 of a three-piece set. Henry S. Hyman was a silversmith active in New York, NY (c. 1832 and 1855-1866) and Richmond, VA (1835-1855). He should not be confused with an earlier Henry Hyman of Lexington, KY. Circa 1840.