Magnificent and exceptionally heavy North African Sephardic Hanukkah oil lamp (Chanukiah), originating from Morocco and dating to the late 19th century. Distinguished as one of the heaviest and thickest-cast examples of its type known to the market, this museum-grade artifact weighs an impressive 4 lbs 4 oz of solid, heavy cast brass/bronze alloy and stands a commanding 12 inches tall by 8 inches wide.

Designed for both wall-suspension and tabletop display, the backplate is an intricate masterpiece of Moorish folk-art openwork, featuring dense scrolling foliate motifs, perforated ventilation patterns, and traditional arched mihrab gates. The crest is surmounted by a sturdy suspension loop and flanked by stylized avian finials. A central, standalone ritual oil font (shamash) projects dynamically from the upper backplate, casting light down onto a lower tier of eight individual, deeply cast oil reservoirs with tapered spouts. The reverse reveals hand-tooled structural pegging, heavy-gauge metal walls, and raw sand-pitting indicative of genuine old-world artisan production. The surface retains its untouched, undisturbed dark chocolate and verdigris patina, left completely unpolished in accordance with elite preservation standards. While elite retail galleries and high-end specialized venues frequently command $2,400 to $3,500 for comparable monumental North African forms, this example is offered here directly for the serious collector.

Origin: North Africa (Morocco), representing traditional Sephardic Jewish ceremonial craftsmanship influenced by regional Islamic and Moorish architectural design.

Age: Late 19th Century (Circa 1880–1900).

Material: Solid Cast Brass / Bronze Alloy

Condition: Splendid, investment-grade antique condition. The heavy metal alloy displays a rich, undisturbed dark patina with natural green verdigris highlights concentrated in the recesses. Structurally sound, stable, and heavy in hand. Completely uncleaned and unpolished to preserve its historic surface integrity. Note that a modern nut has been added to hold the shamash securely. Note that a modern nut has been added on the reverse side to hold the shamash securely.

Authenticity Assessment

Evaluating the authenticity of 19th-century North African Judaica centers on metallurgical physics and casting signatures that modern foundries cannot replicate. First, the extraordinary weight (4 lbs 4 oz) confirms a thick, heavy-gauge metal casting typical of scarce, high-end regional ritual objects, whereas modern reproductions are notoriously lightweight and hollow. Second, the micro-surfaces exhibit irregular, granular sand-pitting and hand-filed apertures rather than smooth, uniform machine-stamping. Third, the oxidation is deeply integrated into the metallic matrix, showing natural verdigris accumulation tightly bound within the riveted and pegged joints. These indicators verify an authentic, period-correct artifact from the Jewish communities of the Maghreb.

Item dimensions: 11" tall × 9 " wide × 2.5" deep  

Weight of item: 4 lb 4 oz

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Item Description and Condition Disclaimer

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