NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s annual New York auction of Important Judaica on 15 December 2016 will offer a diverse array of Hebrew books and manuscripts, ritual silver and metalwork, as well as important textiles and paintings.

The sale is headlined by 176 lots from the Collection of Shlomo Moussaieff, which span over seven centuries. The collection features an impressive range of items, including: ceremonial silver, with a particular emphasis on menorahs and candelabras of diverse forms that from Jewish communities all over the world; books and manuscripts, featuring important autographed Kabbalistic works and decorated Kettubahs (marriage contracts); and textiles and fine art, including Simeon Solomon’s 1871 painting, Carrying the Scrolls of the Law (est. $150/250,000). Outside of the Moussaieff collection, the auction will present important silver, books and manuscripts, including the earliest Jewish Prayer book printed in America (est. $180/240,000).

The Important Judaica sale will be on view in Sotheby's York Avenue galleries from 10 December through 15 December, alongside the auction of Israeli & International Art.

IMPORTANT JUDAICA FROM THE COLLECTION OF SHLOMO MOUSSAIEFF
Sotheby’s will offer Important Judaica from the collection of the late Shlomo Moussaieff this December. A renowned jeweler, Mr. Moussaieff was equally known as a passionate connoisseur and collector of Judaica and Antiquities.

The breadth of Mr. Moussaieff’s interest in the material and spiritual culture of the Jews is evidenced throughout his collection of important books and manuscripts. The auction features a remarkable collection of ketubbot, including an early and exceedingly rare marriage contract from the port city of Livorno (est. $50/70,000). The highly decorated marriage contract, with its border illustrating the twelve tribes of Israel and the equal number of zodiac signs, is extant in only 15 copies and can be found on only a very few of the lavishly decorated ketubbot produced for wealthy Jewish families in the Veneto region. Further highlights also include an incredibly diverse selection of 35 Kabbalistic manuscripts (the largest collection to ever come to auction), autographed by some of the most important Rabbis, including preeminent kabbalist Rabbi Hayyim Vital (1542-1620) and Rabbi Israel of Medzhybizh (1700-1760).

The metalwork section of the Moussaieff collection features a significant variety of forms of menorahs and Hanukah lamps, some of exceptional size, such as a 72-inch Monumental Polish brass Synagogue Hannukah Lamp circa 1890 (est. $30/50,000). There is also a rare group of Middle Eastern Torah Tiks – one of the largest ever to come to auction – and a selection of German silver and silver-gilt Kiddush cups, many appropriate inscriptions.

The collection and sale is led by Simeon Solomon’s 1871 painting, Carrying the Scrolls of the Law (est. $150/250,000) Depicting a young man deep in a moment of religious sanctity, this celebrated paining by the artist stands at the pinnacle of the history of Jewish art of the 19th century. A version of this work in watercolor was chosen as the cover image of the Jewish Museum’s landmark exhibition, The Emergence of Jewish Artists in Nineteenth– Century Europe.

AMERICAN JUDAICA
Outside of the Moussaieff collection, the auction offers a strong selection of important American Judaica, led by the first Jewish Prayer book printed in the United States (est. $180/240,000) published in New York, 1761. This pioneering American edition contains the evening liturgy for the High Holy Days and was the first English translation of the Jewish liturgy issued for a Jewish audience. The present work is exceedingly scarce, as only three other complete copies are known to exist – all of which are held by institutional libraries. The sale also includes an original ink and watercolor drawing from 1827 documenting the construction of B’nai Jeshurun, the second synagogue founded in New York and the third-oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in the United States (estimate $4/6,000).

EUROPEAN SILVER
The silver portion of the sale includes a fine Bezalel Silver Large Hanukah Lamp, circa 1910 (est. $20-30,000), and two pairs of Torah Finials from the Amsterdam Jewish Community. A fine silver-gilt Torah Crown from Venice, early 18th century, displays the strength of Italian chasing in the Baroque period (est. $180/220,000). Hanging Lamps are also featured, including an Important Silver Figural Sabbath lamp from Northern Italy circa 1775, mounted with eight figures (estimate $100/150,000) and a Rare German silver hanging Sabbath Lamp from Augsburg, Germany in the late 18th century (est. $250/350,000).

IMPORTANT BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS
The printed works in this year's sale are led by one of the most highly coveted Hebrew Incunabula, a Mishneh Torah by Moses Maimonides printed in Soncino, 1490 (est. $150/200,000). Also featured is an exceptionally fine copy of the Second Rabbinic Bible, Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1524–1525 (est. $50/70,000), and the first edition of the Hasidic masterwork Likkutei Moharan (Gleanings of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav), Ostraha: 1808. An outstanding group of 18th century illustrated manuscripts also appear in the sale, including a 1771 Haggadah written by Netanel ben Aaron (est. $75/150,000) and an exceptional group of Esther scrolls, including a Magnificent Esther Scroll Written and Illustrated by Aryeh Leib ben Daniel of Goray, 1737 (est. $70/10,000) and a Richly Decorated Esther Scroll from Baghdad, circa 1850 (est. $20/30,000).