Ornate Silver Book Binding – Ottoman Empire, 1818 – Biti and Reuven Families

Ornate Silver Book Binding – Ottoman Empire, 1818 – Biti and Reuven Families

Ornately decorated silver book binding, with dedicatory inscription. [Ottoman Empire, possibly Bulgaria, 5578 – 1818; additional inscription dated 5656 – 1896].
Cast silver (unmarked), cut, repoussé and engraved.
Elegant book binding (for either a "siddur" or "mahzor"), adorned on either side with vegetal patterns in a symmetrical layout characteristic of the Ottoman Empire, and in particular, of decorative patterns stamped on Ottoman book bindings.
The spine is divided into six rectangular sections, and bears a repoussé dedicatory inscription in fancy letters: A later, two-part inscription is engraved on the front and back of the binding, relating to a second owner, Avraham Shlomo Reuven: "Avraham Shlomo / 5656 [1896]" on the front, and "Riubin [Reuben] may the Lord protect and preserve him" on the back.
Families with the surnames Biti and Reuven were known to have resided in the city of Skopje, Bulgaria (today the capital of North Macedonia). Skopje – where Jewish settlement dates back to the 3rd century CE – is therefore quite likely the provenance of this particular book binding.
Decorative patterns similar to those here are known to appear on Jewish sacred objects from the Ottoman Empire, for instance, on Torah shields, Torah crowns, "parokhot" (Torah ark curtains), and embroidered tablecloths. Nevertheless, Jewish silver book bindings originating from the lands of the Ottoman Empire are by no means common, and ones boasting such a high standard of elegance and craftsmanship are indeed rare.

Height: 17.5 cm. Width: 12.5 cm. Thickness: 4 cm. Good condition. No book.

Reference and Exhibitions:
1. Sephatdic Jews in the Ottoman Empire. Jerusalem, the Israel Museum, 1989 (Hebrew).
2. The Sephardic Journey: 1492-1992, edited by Marc Engel, Shalom Sabar and Chaya Benjamin. New York, Yeshiva University Museum, 1992, p. 225, no. 136.
3. Reise an kein Ende der Welt. Vienna, Jüdisches Museum Wien, 2001, pp. 74-75.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 025.001.009.
This book binding is documented on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 3900.