This silver chanukah menorah is from Germany and dates to the third quarter of the 19th century. It of bench form with covered lamps, on shell and scroll feet. The backplate is hand tooled with a trellis patten centered by a cartouche, which states a Hebrew presentation that this was given in memory of a "Reb Shmuel, son of Reb Yehuda Aryeh" as well as in honor of another individual. The border is hand chased with scrolling leaf decoration. Apparently unmarked.
Although it may seem peculiar that no hallmarks are found on this impressive piece, this puzzle is explained quite straightforwardly in the book "A Collector's Guide to Judaica" by Jay Weinstein. When describing a silver German chanukah menorah in tree form that is pictured (page 129) Weinstein writes: "Marks are often missing in pieces made during the 1860s and 1870s, when the guilds ceased to function in many German towns, and the unified German Imperial marks of 1882 were not yet established".
For another 19th century silver German chanukah menorah that appeared at auction lacking hallmarks, see Sotheby's Judaica sale of April 29, 2013, lot 269, which sold for $7,500.
375.9 grams 17×16.5cm
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