Small, Decorated Drinking Bowl – Afghanistan-Persia, 1930s-1940s – Dedicatory Inscription
Small, Decorated Drinking Bowl – Afghanistan-Persia, 1930s-1940s – Dedicatory Inscription
"Jam-tas"-type drinking bowl. [Afghanistan or Persia (Iran), 1930s-1940s].
Silver, engraved; parcel gilt.
Small bowl used by Jews of Afghanistan and Persia as a drinking vessel during celebrations, festivals, and holidays. The inner surface is richly adorned with artwork and inscriptions. At the center (or bottom) of the inner surface is a gilt Star of David inscribed in the middle with the Hebrew initials "Mem-Daleth" ["Magen David" = "Star of David"]. Encircling this is a band of eight framed illustrations – fish, waterfowl, a strutting peacock, a female deer, drinking vessels on a table, bouquets of flowers and vases, and a pair of stereotypical images of the Western Wall and, behind it, the buildings and trees of the Temple Mount (the latter labeled with the Hebrew words "Kotel / Ma’aravi" ["Western Wall"]). Dedicatory inscription (Hebrew) on a band encircling the illustrations: "To life, in the joy of Jerusalem, a souvenir [with] love in honor of our teacher and rabbi [?] Akajan Yakaboff Bassal, from Akajan Paltiyeff". Among Jews from Afghanistan and Persia/Iran, "Yakaboff" and "Bassal" are common surnames, and "Akajan" ("Mister" or "Sir") is a customary title in Farsi.
Reference: Zohar Hanegbi and Bracha Yaniv, Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home, The Center for Jewish Art (CJA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 1991, nos. 72-74.
Diameter: 9 cm. Good condition. Minor warping.
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Small, Decorated Drinking Bowl – Afghanistan-Persia, 1930s-1940s – Dedicatory Inscription
"Jam-tas"-type drinking bowl. [Afghanistan or Persia (Iran), 1930s-1940s].
Silver, engraved; parcel gilt.
Small bowl used by Jews of Afghanistan and Persia as a drinking vessel during celebrations, festivals, and holidays. The inner surface is richly adorned with artwork and inscriptions. At the center (or bottom) of the inner surface is a gilt Star of David inscribed in the middle with the Hebrew initials "Mem-Daleth" ["Magen David" = "Star of David"]. Encircling this is a band of eight framed illustrations – fish, waterfowl, a strutting peacock, a female deer, drinking vessels on a table, bouquets of flowers and vases, and a pair of stereotypical images of the Western Wall and, behind it, the buildings and trees of the Temple Mount (the latter labeled with the Hebrew words "Kotel / Ma’aravi" ["Western Wall"]). Dedicatory inscription (Hebrew) on a band encircling the illustrations: "To life, in the joy of Jerusalem, a souvenir [with] love in honor of our teacher and rabbi [?] Akajan Yakaboff Bassal, from Akajan Paltiyeff". Among Jews from Afghanistan and Persia/Iran, "Yakaboff" and "Bassal" are common surnames, and "Akajan" ("Mister" or "Sir") is a customary title in Farsi.
Reference: Zohar Hanegbi and Bracha Yaniv, Afghanistan: The Synagogue and the Jewish Home, The Center for Jewish Art (CJA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 1991, nos. 72-74.
Diameter: 9 cm. Good condition. Minor warping.
