Judaica?

[ARFAA]

I am stumped by this small silver figure, possibly an altar boy, wearing a kippah and long robes and holding a jewelled chest in his hands before him. The chest is hinged. The base is also 'jewelled' and bears marks I have not been able to identify. The figure seems to have some religious significance, either Christian or Jewish. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Photos can be viewed at:
https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A35nhQSTnURGt

[oel]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Silver figurine for the marks see Germany Hanau pseudo marks, perhaps of Karl Kurz
http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html

Oel

[ARFAA]

Thank you for the reply. That is a good tip although I still have not matched all of the marks to any one maker, the closest exact match I have found so far is that one of the marks on my item seems to be an exact match to [s541] attributed to Gebrüder Dingeldein. I have not matched the remaining marks as yet. Would you have any idea where one finds the referenced works by Schleffer and Bruno-Wilhelm Theile?

Would you have any idea about identifying the subject? Is that an altar boy? What is the symbolism of the chest?

Thanks for your help.

[oel]

Hi,

The silver figurine looks like a trough conversation piece. The religious figure holding the chest, gilded inside, could be for salt. For the history about salt see;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_salt

For more information about Bruno Wilhelm Thiele try a Google search
http://www.amazon.com/Bruno-Wilhelm-Thiele/e/B001K1CCO0

and a search forWolfgang Scheffler
http://www.amazon.de/Gold-Silber-Wolfga ... 0Scheffler

Best,

Oel.

[ARFAA]

Kind of you to reply with links and info however I am not familiar with the expression "trough conversation." What does that mean? Is it possibly a slang reference to a conversation that might take place at the dining table, that being the "trough?"

I don't believe that the figure is meant to be a salt as the chest is too small and the figure a bit a awkward to pass as a salt cellar. Also, the interior of the box is not gilded, merely tarnished.

Thanks again.

[oel]

Sorry, yes you are right a true conversation piece.

Best,

Oel.

[WarrenKundis]

Gentlemen,

In was not uncommon for the person who had made a significant donation to the building of a church to be portrayed holding a model in his hands. Believe that there is a mosaic of the Emperor Justinian holding Hia Sophia in his hands. Could also be a Catholic saint holding the model of a shrine or pilgrimage site associated with them.

Just a thought
Warren