Up for sale is a Hanukkah menorah (Chanukiah), a traditional nine-branched brass candelabra used in the Jewish holiday of Chanukah to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. It features eight side branches for the nightly candles and a taller central shamash for lighting them. The design is characteristic of Eastern European Judaica, with intricate cast and chased decorations evoking natural motifs like leaves, vines, and floral elements—common in 19th- and early 20th-century pieces from regions like Poland, Ukraine, or Russia, where Jewish artisans produced such items for synagogue and home use.

• Material and Construction: Solid cast brass with a warm, aged patina (verdigris and brown toning) that gives it an authentic antique glow. The branches are slender and banded, terminating in drip pans (bobeches) to catch wax. The central shamash branch rises higher than the others, arched gracefully for stability. The base is a two-tiered octagon (about 4 inches across at the widest point), with deeply incised relief carvings of stylized leaves, acanthus motifs, and geometric borders. The underside shows evidence of soldering or brazing around the central mounting point (likely for securing the stem to the base) and a small bolt or screw for reinforcement—common in period construction to prevent wobbling during use. 

• Condition: Good antique condition with uniform patina, minor wear on high-touch points (e.g., branch tips), and no major dents or breaks. The patina is even, which could result from gentle cleaning or natural aging in a stable environment, but the soldering suggests a professional repair or original assembly technique rather than modern fabrication.

• Usage: Lit during Hanukkah—one additional candle per night for eight nights, kindled by the shamash. Not for the seven-branched Temple menorah (a separate symbolic item); this is distinctly for home ritual. Safe for beeswax or paraffin candles; avoid modern electric versions for authenticity.

• Origin: Eastern European, likely Polish or Russian, circa 1880-1920. This style draws from Bezalel School influences (early Zionist art) or traditional shtetl craftsmanship, where brass was affordable and symbolic of light/endurance. No hallmarks visible, but the floral repoussé work aligns with Galician or Warsaw workshop output.

• Age: Late 19th to early 20th century (circa 1880-1920). The heavy casting, hand-chased details, and organic motifs point to pre-WWII production, before mass reproductions became common. 

Item dimensions: 6.75" tall × 5.5" wide × 4" deep  

Weight of item: 1 lb  6.9 oz