Temple Site – Mizrach Plaque on Glass, with Illustrations of the Dome of the Rock and Gravesites of Tzadikim – ...

Temple Site – Mizrach Plaque on Glass, with Illustrations of the Dome of the Rock and Gravesites of Tzadikim – Moshe Ben Yitzchak Mizrahi – Jerusalem, 1910 – Dedicated to Mashiach Djian

Temple site – Mizrach plaque on glass, created by Moshe ben Yitzchak Mizrahi (Shah). Jerusalem, [1910].
Oil paint and silver foil on glass.
The verse "If I forget thee, Jerusalem…" is inscribed at the top of the plaque, followed by a Star of David containing the word Zion. Additional verses around the Star of David and beneath it, with two crowned golden lions and a pair of tall columns flanking it, representing the minaret of the Tower of David in Jerusalem.
The Dome of the Rock is depicted in the center of the plaque, in a circular frame. The structure is flanked by flowering branches, and is captioned "Temple Site". Nine oval medallions surround it, depicting various holy sites and gravesites of Tzadikim in Eretz Israel: The Cave of the Patriarchs, the Tomb of Samuel, [the tomb of R. Meir Baal HaNes], [the tomb of Rashbi], [Elisha's tomb], Joseph's Tomb, the Tomb of Shimon HaTzadik, Rachel's Tomb and King David's Tomb. Four flowers decorate the four corners.
The right and left margins contain the text of the priestly blessing, while a dedication is inscribed in the lower margin: "In honor of Mashiach Djian / written by Moshe Mizrahi, 1910".
The recipient of the plaque was presumably Mashiach Borochoff Djian (1875-1946), a Bukharan merchant and communal worker in Jerusalem, founder and manager of the Sephardic orphanage, member of the first Assembly of Representatives (Mashiach Borochoff Alley and Mashiach Borochoff House on Jaffa St. in Jerusalem are named after him).
The artist Moshe ben Yitzhak Mizrahi (Shah) was born before 1870 in Tehran, and immigrated to Eretz Israel ca. 1890, where he changed his name to Mizrahi. He resided in Jerusalem and worked as a sofer. He supported himself by opening a shop for frames and mirrors in the Old City's perfume market. Mizrahi was known in Jerusalem as the "Menorah Painter" (painter of Shiviti plaques).

Approx. 71X54.5 cm; frame approx. 79.5X62 cm (not examined out of frame). Fair-good condition. Losses to paint and defects to silver foil; dampness damage.

Reference and exhibitions:
1. Arts and Crafts in 19th Century Eretz Israel, by Yona Fischer. Jerusalem, Israel Museum, 1979, pp. 118-124 (Hebrew).
2. Jerusalem, Spirit and Matter, by Nitza Berhoozi. Tel Aviv, Eretz Israel Museum, 1993, p. 31, no. 11 (Hebrew).
3. Masa bein Yerushalayim, Tehilim, and Agnon BaOmanuyot. Jerusalem, Ministry of Education, 2017, p. 15 (Hebrew).
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 056.007.002.
The plaque is documented on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 42433.