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Large and magnificent silver An important silver Chanukah lamp. A brass Chanukah lamp. Large and important silver
Chanukah menorah. Iraq, 19th century. The Netherlands, 19th century. Chanukah lamp by Jan Porgozelski.
Russian, 19th century. Warsaw, 19th century.

The term menorah and the term Chanukah lamp are often used Collecting Judaica: What to Know
interchangeably. A menorah, for the most part, is a free-standing
candelabra with eight branches or arms that extend evenly out to allow 1. Don’t be a sucker. Buy authentic. When purchasing antique Judaica,
for the insertion of candles or oil. There is usually a separate arm that is either from a dealer or an auction house, it is imperative that the piece be
removable and acts as the shammash (servant light that is used to light all deemed kosher. Unfortunately, because Judaic objects are so hard to
the other candles). A Chanukah lamp usually has a back plate and can be find and are such a microcosm within the art and antique world, the
mounted on the wall or can also be freestanding. Chanukah lamps catalyst to forge and fake is huge. If something is too good to be true, it
usually have some sort of reflective nature to the back plate as well as probably isn’t.
deeply ornate decoration. Early menorahs from the 17th and 18th
centuries are quite rare and often fetch top dollar at public auctions. 2. Go big or go home. Buy aesthetically pleasing pieces. While buying a
As there was never a “Jewish” style of art, artisans adopted and historic piece is great, in my experience, I have seen the most beautiful
incorporated the artistic movements of the time and region into their pieces achieve the best prices. When you can purchase a rare and aesthet-
work. We also often see nationalistic designs such as a double-headed ically pleasing piece it’s a win-win situation. The more attractive and the
eagle added to these pieces. Most Galician and Eastern European models more glorious a piece is, the more it will fetch at auction.
from the 18th and 19th centuries tend to be folksy in style. Stylized lions
are the principal motif. This especially holds true for wall-style Chanukah 3. Buy 18th and 19th century pieces. The earlier a piece is, the more it
lamps. These were mostly handmade until the third quarter of the 19th will fetch on the block. While a 19th century version of Dutch filigree
century when machine-made mass production in Warsaw took over for Torah finials generally brings $30,000 or so at auction, the 18th century
the most part. Makers such as Shmuel Skarlat, Ludwig Nast, Izaak version will usually hit $60,000 or so. If a piece of early 20th century
Szekman, and many others had shops in the commercial Judaica is offered, it is essential to ensure that the piece is handmade in
town of Warsaw and often copied each other’s designs. true modernist style by a known master artisan.
This period from the second half of the 19th century
up to WWII saw massive repetition in style and 4. Get yourself a “Rebbe.” Consult with a true expert.
motif. Palm trees, lions, birds, and grapevines were Most auction houses that sell Judaica have a
some of the more popular decorations. Judaica expert on staff. One should question
Another popular style of Chanukah lamp that we the expert as to why he feels that a piece is for
often see at auction is the “Baal Shem Tov” style. The certain an antique and not a recent copy.
Baal Shem Tov was the founder of the Chassidic Silver travelling
movement that originated in Eastern Chanukah lamp. 5. Spend time in museums with Judaica.
Europe. Tradition holds that the Germany, c. 1900. Jewish museums around the world harbor
Chanukah lamp that he used was made Shown closed some of the best pieces extant. There is no
completely of filigree silver. There are (above) and replacement for experience. You can be
varieties of this lamp with the larger opened (left). the world’s greatest silver expert and not
more ornate models that are decorated understand Judaica. Only the constant
with small silver animals achieving the highest visual inspection and handling of these
prices. There is no direct proof that this model was precious objects will give you the skill set
actually used by the Baal Shem Tov; however, the legacy to buy safely.
has survived nearly 300 years with all collectors using the term.
German Chanukah lamps of the early periods (1650-1825 or so) are 6. Try to find the history of the piece. Objects that have descended in
usually heavily decorated and quite rare. They are usually much finer in families or have been sold and resold at auction over the span of years are
craftsmanship and a lot less folksy than lamps made in Eastern Europe at more desirable than ones that just magically appear on the market.
the same time. Human figures are sometimes used to decorate the lamps
or as props for holding the servant lamp or oil jugs, these usually sell in
the $200,000-$600,000 range, with the earlier, more ornate ones Jonathan Greenstein is the president and expert-in-charge at J. Greenstein
bringing numbers closer to the higher estimate. Towards the end of the & Company, Inc. in Cedarhurst, New York. It is the country’s only auction
19th century, German silversmiths also started mass producing these house specializing in antique Jewish Ritual art, known as Judaica. Visit
lamps often in the style of hand-made earlier models. The most popular https://jgreenstein.com for more information.
one that we see is the “Lions” model where each oil holder is shaped like An expert in antique Judaica for over 35 years, Jonathan has been
a sitting lion with a wick holder extending from its mouth. The later the featured on CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, NBC News with
model, the more likely it has been re-casted. With this comes the dulling Chuck Scarborough, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and many
of the details of the lions and other decorations, which brings down the others. He is also the author of A Lost Art: Hand-Made Silver Kiddush
value significantly. Cups of Eastern Europe.

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles