Ornament of the Ten Commandments tablets supported by two lions
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Width: 2.250 inches (5.715 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
Archival History
The medallion was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Ingo Zechner.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Ingo Zechner
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Pressed metal coat of arms style plaque of the 10 Commandments found with the papers of Cacilia and Stefanie Klarfeld. The use and owner of the plaque are unknown. The tablets have the 10 Commandments embossed in Hebrew and are flanked by the rampant Lion of Judah. Cacilia Klarfeld was imprisoned in Theresienstadt concentration camp in German occupied Czechoslovakia from 1943 until the camps liberation in May 1945.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Detailed, silver colored, bronze washed, pressed metal ornament in the shape of 2 arched, rectangular tablets with raised Hebrew text of the 10 Commandments. On each side is a wavy maned lion, with protruding tongue, in profile, the rampant lion of Judah. They stand on 1 hind leg, with the other leg raised as if climbing the tablets; one front paw supports the tablet center and 1 the top. Set atop the tablets is a hoop crown with protruding oval centers and raised semicircles on the bands. To each side is a spray of stippled, veined oak leaves and thistles. At the bottom are 2 larger sprays of oak leaves and thistles with a heart pattern outline where the 2 branches meet in the center. There is green tarnish on the hollow back.
Subjects
- Jewish crafts.
- Ten commandments in art.
- Jewish art and symbolism--Devotional objects.
Genre
- Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Object