Two parchment sheets in a decorated wooden frame. Alexandria, Egypt, 1914.
Parchment, ink; wood inlaid with shell.
Two parchment sheets, framed in glass within an architectural wooden frame inlaid with shell.
The upper sheet is an amulet with Kabbalistic inscriptions with a Star of David with Shadai letters in its center. On the lower borders appears the Hebrew inscription "memorial donation by Baron Felix de Menashe, No-Amon". On the lower parchment appears Psalm 126: "Shir HaMa’a lot…", on both sides a Star of David and on the border: "Memorial donation by Baron Felix de Menashe, No-Amon, 1914".
Baron Felix de Menashe (1865-1943), native of Alexandria, son of one of the Jewish "aristocratic" wealthy families who headed the congregation and founded schools, health institutes and art institutions. The family’s name was perpetuated in the arts center, the Jewish school, a hospital and the synagogue (named "Menashe"). Baron Felix de Menashe was friendly with Haim Weizmann in Eretz Israel and was involved with entrepreneurship and with political activities in Eretz Israel mainly during the 1920s-30s, but never lived in Eretz Israel. The diverse economic operations of the De Menashe family in Egypt ended in 1948 and the last family members left Egypt after the 1956 Sinai War.
Height of first parchment: 15 cm. Height of second parchment: 10 cm. Parchments in good condition. Wooden frame in poor condition, unprofessionally restored.