This is an early 20th-century Pre-State Palestine / early Israeli repoussé and chased brass souvenir wall charger/plate depicting Rachel’s Tomb (Kever Rachel). Executed in the Arts & Crafts Bezalel School style, it features hand-hammered relief work showing the iconic domed tomb structure, stylized flora, and classical Hebrew inscriptions.

Detailed Description

• Subject: Depicts Kever Rachel (Rachel’s Tomb) in Bethlehem with decorative architectural details and botanical accents.

• Front Inscriptions:

• Bottom center rim: קבר רחל (Kever Rachel / Tomb of Rachel).

• Arc above dome: מזכרת ירושלים (Mazkeret Yerushalayim / Souvenir of Jerusalem).

• Reverse Inscriptions: Stamped with two lines of hand-engraved Hebrew text:

• תוצרת הארץ (Totzeret HaAretz – Product of the Land [of Israel]).

• עבודת יד (Avodat Yad – Hand Work / Handmade).

• Construction: Heavy gauge repoussé and chased sheet brass with an integrated, turned-over rim featuring double-line pressed ribbing. The reverse retains three original soldered copper/brass tab feet, around which a previous owner strung thin hanging wire.

• Origin: Ottoman / Mandate Palestine (Jerusalem school workshop).

• Age: Circa 1910s–1930s (Pre-State Israel era). The Hebrew phrase Totzeret HaAretz was widely used by early Jewish artisan co-ops and workshops during the British Mandate period.

• Material: Solid Brass / Yellow Metal

• Diameter: 8.5 inches

• Weight: 9.5 oz

Condition: Very Good antique condition with age-appropriate character. Features an uncleaned, original dark aged brass patina with minor surface tarnish and light oxidation in the recessed detail areas. No major dents or structural breaks. Reverse shows original soldered support tabs and an improvised wire hanger that can easily be retained or removed.

Reference

• Book Title: Jewish Art: An Illustrated History

• Author: Cecil Roth

• Page / Reference: Chapter on Jewish Metalwork and Bezalel Metal Crafts, pp. 280–289. (Compares early 20th-century repoussé metal chargers depicting Holy Sites made by Jerusalem workshops).

Authenticity Assessment

The piece exhibits classic hallmarks of authentic early 20th-century Mandate-era metalwork. The repoussé and hand-chasing show hand-tooling variations and minor asymmetry characteristic of period artisan benchwork rather than modern uniform die-stamping. The stamp תוצרת הארץ (Totzeret HaAretz) uses hand-punched Hebrew lettering typical of the 1920s–1940s prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The natural verdigris buildup in recessed areas and authentic tone of the brass oxidation confirm genuine age.

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