Name/Title
Torah wimpelEntry/Object ID
K_1064Description
An early and rare hand-embroidered wimpel, richly and expressively crafted, made to celebrate the birth of Moshe Aryeh, son of Menachem Segal, born on 21 Adar 5474 (1714). The embroidery is remarkable for its quality and imagination, combining ornamented lettering with symbolic and colorful figures. Among the motifs appear a female figure, half-human and half-fish – a fascinating image drawn from European folklore – attempting to catch a fish; a lion embroidered beneath the name “Aryeh” in reference to the child’s name; as well as a flower vase, an open Torah scroll topped with a crown containing the verse “It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, ” together with small, delicate decorations scattered along the length of the fabric. Measuring approximately 3.4 meters in length and 16 cm in width, this wimpel stands as a living testament to the early tradition of Jewish textile art, reflecting the harmonious blend of religious, folkloric, and symbolic imagery found in early 18th-century Jewish birth textiles.