A striking example of modern Jewish ritual art and handmade metalwork.
This unusual nine-light Hanukkiah is constructed from dark iron or steel nail-like elements joined with extensive gold-colored soldering, brazing, and weld buildup. Eight candle cups surround an elevated central shamash, while a Star of David is incorporated into the geometric base.
Its angular, open framework gives the piece a distinctly Brutalist character, transforming humble industrial materials into a functional object of Jewish religious practice.
Hanukkah lamps have a long history of artistic experimentation. Museum collections contain examples made from silver, copper, steel, tin, wood, clay, concrete, silicone, and other materials, demonstrating the considerable freedom artists and craftspeople have had in interpreting the ritual object.
This particular piece is especially interesting because of its nail-and-metal construction. That technique places it within a documented 20th-century tradition of handmade Judaica, including the work of artists such as Erwin Thieberger, who created menorahs from flattened nails, scrap metal, and solder. However, this Hanukkiah is unsigned and its maker has not been identified. There is currently insufficient evidence to attribute it to Thieberger, Gary Rosenthal, or another specific artist.
The object is therefore presented here as an unidentified 20th-century Brutalist Hanukkiah, allowing its craftsmanship and religious significance to stand on their own while leaving its maker an open question for future research.
Dimensions: Approximately 11¼ inches tall
Weight: Approximately 782 grams
Condition: Vintage/used condition with visible oxidation, surface variation, wear, and irregularities in the handmade metalwork. The object has not been cleaned or altered. Please examine the photographs carefully; they depict the actual piece offered.
A striking example of modern Jewish ritual art and handmade metalwork.
This unusual nine-light Hanukkiah is constructed from dark iron or steel nail-like elements joined with extensive gold-colored soldering, brazing, and weld buildup. Eight candle cups surround an elevated central shamash, while a Star of David is incorporated into the geometric base.
Its angular, open framework gives the piece a distinctly Brutalist character, transforming humble industrial materials into a functional object of Jewish religious practice.
Hanukkah lamps have a long history of artistic experimentation. Museum collections contain examples made from silver, copper, steel, tin, wood, clay, concrete, silicone, and other materials, demonstrating the considerable freedom artists and craftspeople have had in interpreting the ritual object.
This particular piece is especially interesting because of its nail-and-metal construction. That technique places it within a documented 20th-century tradition of handmade Judaica, including the work of artists such as Erwin Thieberger, who created menorahs from flattened nails, scrap metal, and solder. However, this Hanukkiah is unsigned and its maker has not been identified. There is currently insufficient evidence to attribute it to Thieberger, Gary Rosenthal, or another specific artist.
The object is therefore presented here as an unidentified 20th-century Brutalist Hanukkiah, allowing its craftsmanship and religious significance to stand on their own while leaving its maker an open question for future research.
Dimensions: Approximately 11¼ inches tall
Weight: Approximately 782 grams
Condition: Vintage/used condition with visible oxidation, surface variation, wear, and irregularities in the handmade metalwork. The object has not been cleaned or altered. Please examine the photographs carefully; they depict the actual piece offered.
