An Elaborate Embroidered Sabbath Tablecloth, Jerusalem, 1821, 135.9 By 139.5 Cm

An elaborate embroidered Sabbath tablecloth, Jerusalem, 1821, 135.9 by 139.5 cm

This colourful Sabbath tablecloth embroidered with images of the holy sites of Israel is one of an exceptional group of decorative textiles created in the Holy Land in the nineteenth century.

In the central panel, the artist has featured an idealised vision of the sacred sites of the Temple Mount; the Midrash Shlomo (Solomon’s school), Bet Ha-Mikdash (The Temple) and the Kotel ha-Maaravi (the Western Wall). Surrounding the central panel are ten pavilions each denoting a tomb of one of the famous men or sages of Israel. In addition, the well of Miriam is also depicted and a fanciful chained lion represents the tomb of Rabbi Solomon Luria (known by his acronym as Ha-Ari = the Lion). In the outside corners are depictions of the tombs of Rachel, Samuel, Hulda the prophetess and the Kings of the House of David. Several prayers recited on Friday evening at the start of the Sabbath meal, (including Shalom Aleichem) are decoratively inscribed in concentric circles.