c1890 Antique Miniature Silver Jewish Torah Finial compare to $40,000 - $60,000 at Sothebys in 1982 ! Start Price USD 675.00 Current Price USD 675.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 End Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 Location New York See more about 'c1890 Antique Miniature Silver Jewish Torah Finial ' Description 4.5 inches high. Very, very heavy for its compact size, weighs close to a half a pound! Made of sterling silver that was originally gold-washed (gilt/gilded). Has eleven alternating red and green glass stones (one is missing, the slot is still there, subsequently the glass stone can easily be replaced). Well over 100 years old, circa 1890 from the USA. No hallmarks found, no damage or repairs except for one small dent and the previously mentioned missing glass stone.Torah Finials (Rimmonim), are pretty common. Large, thin silver ones with spurious Russian hallmarks are the ones usually found from the USA that date to the 1910's and 20's. But as you might be aware, what is especially rare are not Torah ornaments for Synagogue scrolls, but those made for small scrolls for private use. A complete miniature Torah scroll with finials is quite costly; shown in the black and white photo is from a Sotheby's auction catalog from November 24, 1982, where a miniature Torah scroll with finials was estimated at $40,000 - $60,000 (remember, that estimate is 26 years old).Yes, all I have is one finial. However, this is especially exciting because its AMERICAN. I am not aware of any miniature Torah ornaments that are pre-World War Two made from the USA. The quality of this single finial is quite astounding; the very top piece is cast openwork, the other pieces are spun, and there is terrific engraving of leaves on both sides of the middle part. This is gothic-revival at its best. On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of quality silver workmanship, this is a 10. Lots of sellers like to say "the photos do not do justice to this piece", but in this case, that is not an exaggeration. Holding this in your hand, feeling the almost dead-weight heft of it, looking at the quality of the workmanship, seeing the wear and remnants of the gold wash, its overwhelming in person.Shown in the last photo is from a museum book of antique Jewish items. Shown are American Torah Ornamnets of the same time period as the miniature one I am offering, notice the similarities in design (read the book description carefully; those ornaments are gilded BRASS. My piece is gilded SILVER)Priority mail shipping including delivery confirmation is $9 to anywhere in the USA (insurance is extra and up to the buyer). Paypal payment means immediate shipping. Check my feedback and buy with confidence. Place a Bid!