This rare and finely crafted Torah pointer, or Yad (Hebrew for "hand"), is a classic example of 19th-century Russian Judaica, used traditionally to follow text in the Torah scroll without direct contact. The pointer terminates in a detailed hand with an extended index finger; the finger wears a small ring set with a tiny red coral stone for added elegance. The cylindrical shaft features a twisted rope design, interrupted by ornate bands of floral, shell, and scroll motifs in high relief, accented by several oval cabochon-cut red coral stones set in scalloped bezels. The handle end is crowned with a Star of David motif and a sculpted figure of a rabbi or sage, depicted with a beard and holding what appears to be a sefer, adding symbolic depth. The piece showcases exceptional silversmithing, blending Rococo-inspired ornamentation with Jewish iconography. Hallmarks are clearly stamped along the shaft: the maker's mark "САЗИКОВЪ" in Cyrillic (Sazikov), the imperial double-headed eagle (court supplier warrant), assayer's initials "A.K" (Andrey Kovalsky, St. Petersburg assayer active 1827-1855) above the date "1844", and the silver purity "84" in the zolotnik system. This Yad represents the height of Russian silver craftsmanship during the reign of Nicholas I, when Sazikov was a leading firm producing items for the imperial court and Jewish communities.

Item Specifics:

Material: 84 Zolotnik Silver (equivalent to 875/1000 fineness), with red coral cabochons (likely natural, cabochon-cut; the small one on the finger ring appears faceted or rose-cut)

Origin: St. Petersburg, Russian Empire (now Russia)

Maker: Sazikov (Ignaty Sazikov firm, imperial court supplier, known for high-quality silverware and Judaica; marked with Cyrillic "САЗИКОВЪ" along the shaft, imperial double-headed eagle warrant mark indicating court approval)

Age: 1844 (dated via hallmark; approximately 181 years old as of 2025)

Condition: Great antique condition, with expected age-related patina, light surface wear, and minor tarnish consistent with its age and use. One tiny dent towards hand but no breaks or repairs visible. The silver retains good luster in polished areas, and the coral stones are intact without chips or cracks.

Item dimensions: 13.25" tall × 1.25" largest diameter

Weight of item: 1.8 oz