Early Wimpel, Decorated with Rich, Colorful Embroidery – Germany, 17th Century

Early Wimpel, Decorated with Rich, Colorful Embroidery – Germany, 17th Century

Wimpel (Torah binder) for the circumcision of the baby Avraham son of Chaim. [Germany], 1693.
Linen embroidered with multicolored silk and cotton threads; silk.
Richly embroidered and decorated wimpel, made from four almost equal sections of fabric sewn together, with narrow strips of silk stitched onto joints. Edges hemmed with ornamental stitches in various colors.
Embroidered inscription: "Avraham son of the Chaver R. / Chaim, may he grow up / to Torah, chuppah and good deeds / Born on Sunday, 25th Iyar 5453 [May 31, 1693]".
The text is embroidered in richly-decorated hollow letters, with the outline of a single letter occasionally embroidered with several silk threads, in various colors. Each letter is decorated with a different design, mostly vegetal and geometric motifs. Some letters are decorated with animals (birds, lions and gazelles); most of the ascenders of the Hebrew letter Lamed are shaped as birds. One Lamed decorated with a Star of David; a Torah scroll is embroidered after the word "Torah".
A standard, largely uniform text was used in wimpel inscriptions from the 18th century onwards. The present wimpel features an early version of the text – the name of the child and his father appearing first, followed by the blessings, and only then the date of birth. This text is consistent with the early date of the wimpel.

Approx. 380X16 cm. Overall good condition. Minor blemishes to embroidery in several places. Stains. Linen-backed.

Reference and exhibition:
Geschichten von Gegenständen: Judaika aus dem Beziehungsraum der Hohenemser Juden, the Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv. Jüdisches Museum Hohenems, Hohenems, 1994; Catalog edited by Eva Grabherr, no. 41.
The wimpel is documented in the Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 39249.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 019.014.008.