Impressive Silver Torah Shield – Crown, Jachin and Boaz Pillars and Lions – Nuremberg, Early 19th Century

Impressive Silver Torah Shield – Crown, Jachin and Boaz Pillars and Lions – Nuremberg, Early 19th Century
An impressive Torah Shield, decorated with architectural pillars and a large crown. Nuremberg, early 19th century.
Silver (marked "13", "N" and "GL") repouseé, stamped, punched and engraved; rivets and appliqué.
A shield featuring both engraved and three-dimensional elements. Central stylized seven-branched Menorah, made of oval knobs and lotus-like flowers, engraved on the backdrop of a geometrical tile pattern. Engraved between the stems of the Menorah are the Tablets of the Law with a short version of the Ten Commandments. The lower part of the shield features an open rectangular window designed for displaying a plaque engraved with the name of the present Jewish holiday. A hinged back door behind the window creates a space containing two such two-sided plaques, for marking the holidays of Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot and Sabbath. An engraved oak-leaf coronet to lowest center, surrounding a dedicatory inscription in memory of the donor: "Menachem known as Mendl Trost, son of Rabbi Yaakov" (Hebrew). Hung with three bells.
The general design of the shield is of an architectural façade with a pair of spiral pillars seated on cubic plinths with rosettes and supporting an arch. The pillars represent the pair of copper pillars – the Boaz and Jachin Pillars, which stood at the entrance to the First Temple. The pillars are surmounted by a pair of lions with a double, crossed tail, as in the coat of arms of Bavaria, where Nuremberg is located. The lions, crowned with a royal crown and facing center, flank a large and impressive Torah crown composed of a half-circlet and five arches, with an inner hoop meant to be hung with a bell (missing). With three thick-linked chains gathered by a large hoop.
The earliest royal crowns we know of in Jewish art, appearing as early as the 13th century, are usually based on the crown type used in the close vicinity of Jews. In this case, the large Torah crown on the top of the shield as well as the small crowns on the lions' heads are a variation of the crown prototype of the Holy Roman Emperor.
21.5X32.5 cm. Good condition. Bends. Loss along right edge. A bell is missing from the crown. A late inscription reading "381002" engraved on verso.