Pair of Torah Finials and Pointer

These finials and matching yad, or pointer, were made for the Orthodox Synagogue in Plymouth, England. The Synagogue, which opened in 1762, claims to be “the oldest Ashkenazi (Jews whose ancestors were European) synagogue still in regular use in the English speaking world.” These items reflect the elegance and refined craftsmanship of late 18th-century English silver. They are among the earliest surviving ensembles of English Torah ornaments in the British Isles. The hoop (arch) crown on top of each finial represents the English Crown of St. Edward, a symbol that often appears on Jewish ritual items. St. Edward, or Saint Edward the Confessor, served as “King of the English” from 1042 to 1066. The Crown of St. Edward was traditionally used in the coronation ceremonies for English and British monarchs (kings and queens) as early as the 1200s. The original crown was most likely destroyed when the monarchy was abolished in 1649 during the English Civil Wars. 

These Torah finals, commissioned for the Plymouth Synagogue, provided a way for the Jewish community to show their pride as Jews and as British citizens, since the Crown of St. Edward is the cherished centerpiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. The keter (symbol of a crown) also refers to the importance of the Torah scroll and the lifelong learning of Jewish texts in Jewish life and ritual.

Unfortunately, due to changing population and economic trends over the synagogue’s more than 250-year history, the Jewish community in Plymouth has decreased and is currently a very small community. This led the synagogue to sell, or auction off, some of its valuable collection of Judaic art objects. The NCMA purchased the finials and pointer when they became available through an auction in 2009.