Shiviti - Papercut - Jerusalem

Shiviti - Papercut - Jerusalem
Papercut, Shiviti. [Jerusalem? 19th century].
Paper, watercolor and ink, mounted on cardboard and golden paper.
Colored papercut. A yellow double-headed eagle on top, inscribed: “Shiviti Hashem Lenegdi Tamid” (Hebrew). In the center – a Seven-Branched Menorah with Psalms 67. Between the eagle and the Menorah, in the center, appear Tablets of the Law, open windows on both sides, flanked by lions with realistic features and whiskers (it is possible that the features and the whiskers are a later addition). In the
background are vegetal motifs and birds. On the upper part - an inscription “Da lifney mi ata omed…”. On the lower part, an inscription: “Handmade by my father my teached R’ Avraham Kehat ben Ya’akov Yehudah Hacohen Koffman… [erased word] Tibaneh Vetechunan bimhera Beyameinu” (Hebrew).
In her article “Three Papercuts from Jerusalem” Yehudit Shadur points at the motif of the open Holy Ark, surrounded by a couple of heraldic animals, as a central characteristic of the few known papercuts which have been created in Jerusalem. According to this and according to the inscription on the lower part of the papercut, which includes the words “Tibane vetechunan”, it turns out that this papercut was created in Jerusalem.
47X37 cm, fair condition. Creases, pasting marks, crisp paper. Tears and detached pieces.
See: Three Papercuts from Jerusalem, in: Traditional Jewish Papercuts by Joseph and Yehudit Shadur, Hanover & England, 2002, pp. 150-156
Objects – Judaica & Israeliana