Boston, MA – Rare Ark Form Hanukkah Lamp Sells for $314,000

Boston, MA – Skinner, one of the nation’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, announced its sale of Fine Judaica — held in its Boston gallery — was a tremendous success, more than tripling the pre-sale estimate and grossing more than $1.2 million for just over 200 lots of antique and artisan Judaica.

The top lot in the sale was a rare and important silver and silver gilt Synagogue Ark-form Hanukkah Lamp, originating in Brody (Galicia), and dated 1787. Auctioned for an astounding $314,000 (including buyer’s premium), against a pre-sale estimate of $60,000-80,000, this lot and fifty others in the auction were formerly in the Salomon collection, and not seen in the marketplace since sold at auction at the Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York in 1949. From the late 1920s through the 1940s the lamp was illustrated in numerous books, publications and articles.

“The success of this lot demonstrates that exceptional and rare material presented at auction finds a very strong bidding audience in any economy,” notes Kerry Shrives, Skinner’s Director of Fine Judaica, “but this is especially true in more turbulent times as people turn to tangibles as a hedge against uncertain financial markets.” Shrives adds, “collectors are always in search of material that is fresh-to-the-marketplace and has great provenance. The robust prices overall at this auction reflect that sentiment.”

Other lots that brought big prices include: a Russian silver Temple-form Hanukkah Lamp from Kiev estimated at $10/15,000, but sold for $189,600; a Polish silver Hanukkah Lamp from the early 19th century estimated at $12/18,000, went for $142,200; and a Polish Torah Crown, probably c. 1840, sold for $65,175 well over its $10/15,000 estimate.

Broadly described as the material culture of the Jewish people, Judaica objects have cultural or religious significance, whether made for the marketplace or for the synagogue.