Silver

AN EXTREMELY RARE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN JUDAICA SILVER ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 1890 from Warsaw, 1896, noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

The Stick is particularly notable for its Jewish ceremonial motifs. The top features a secret compartment with a prominent Star of David surrounded by a wreath. The main body features an oval cartouche enclosing a representation of the Menorah (the seven-branched Temple Menorah, though a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is also a common motif in Jewish ritual silver or Judaica). The handle is an Imperial Russian silver walking stick handle made of .875 fineness silver (84 Zolotniki) in 1896, assayed under Osip Sosnkovsky in Warsaw. Osip Sosnkovsky (Assayer) The mark ?? with a date indicate that ?? is a known assayer''s mark. the Cyrillic initials ?? are well-documented to represent Osip Sosnkovsky, who served as an assayer in Warsaw for a period that includes 1896. In summary, the sword stick is a beautiful and historically significant piece of Imperial Russian Judaica: a silver walking stick handle, made of .875 silver, decorated with a Star of David and... Menorah, and hallmarked in Warsaw in 1886. Object Type: It is a sword stick (or cane-sword), which is a cane or walking stick that conceals a hidden blade. Sword sticks became popular among the wealthy in the 18th and 19th centuries as it became less socially acceptable to openly carry a sword, yet gentlemen still wished to be armed for self-defence. The Blade: The blade is straight and pointed steel, which is characteristic of a concealed weapon in a cane. The blade is housed screwed in the hollow upper section of the cane/sword stick. Historical Significance and Context This sword stick is significant for several reasons: Rarity of Judaica Weaponry: Items of weaponry, even concealed defensive items, explicitly marked with Jewish religious symbols from Imperial Russia are extremely rare. This suggests the owner was a wealthy and prominent member of the Jewish community within the Russian Empire (specifically the Polish / Warsaw region), where silver Judaica was produced. Warsaw Silver Production (Russian Empire): The marks point to its origin in Warsaw, which was a major city in the Russian Empire''s Polish provinces (the Congress Kingdom) and a centre for silver production, especially for Judaica. A Symbol of Status and Self-Defence (Late 19th Century): As a sword stick, it was a fashion accessory for the wealthy and upper class, demonstrating the owner''s status. It also served as a means of self-defense during a transitional period when carrying an open sword was no longer customary for civilians. For a Jewish person in the Pale of Settlement or major Russian cities during a time of frequent pogroms and rising anti-Semitism, a concealed weapon for protection would have been a prudent measure.

— Details

Reference

SA1170450

Origin

Warsaw, 1896

Period

1890

Dimensions

H 93.5cm

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Provenance

Private Czech Collection

Condition

Excellent — see description