Stunning damascene box is decorated at cover with beautiful foliate and floral designs encircled by an octagon shaped dual band with linked scrolling patterns. Center roundel has the word ‘Zion’ written in Hebrew surrounded by a Star of David.
Top edges of cover slant upward and have the Hebrew words "Ben Porat Yosef, Ben Porat Alei Ayin" meaning " A fruitful son is Yosef (Joseph), a fruitful son by a spring" and the words "Ki vi yirbu yamecha, veyosifu lecha, shenot chayim" meaning "Because in me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you", inlaid and encircled with silver strips.
Three of its eight sides are decorated with squared silver inlaid scrolling. Front panel displays a picture of two robed Jewish men holding holy books with circular shapes seemingly learning with one another and flanking a foliate design. Both front corner panels feature an inlaid silver palace-like structure under an inlaid copper moon flanked by silver copper banded columns, one with the word "Shalom" and the other with the word "Aleichem" at bottom of the structure. The two corner panels on reverse have a similar like structure as the fore panels, one with the word "Maranan" and the other with the word "VeRabnan" written in Hebrew with inlaid silver and copper. Cover has a foliate designed latch at front with similar foliate designed hinges at back, inner box is inlaid with wood.
14cm. L., 10.5cm W., 7cm H.
Overall great condition , bottom of one letter at top edge has an inlaid silver strip missing.
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