Torah shield donated by Lämel of Tuschkau

2015

Johann Samuel Beckensteiner, Nuremberg, 1763 (or shortly before).
Acquired by the museum in 1942-45 from the 'Maisel Synagogue' collection point in Prague.
Part of the museum's collection / Judaica sub-collection

JMP 044.438, hammered, chased, cast and gilt silver, height: 350 mm, width: 296 mm

This month marks the 170th anniversary of the death of the wholesale merchant and banker Simon von Lämel, who was born in the west Bohemian town of Město Touškov (German: Tuschkau) on the 28th of August 1766. The son of a wool merchant, he took to the family business at an early age, introducing new methods for sheep rearing and wool production. He gradually worked his way up to become one of the biggest traders in the Habsburg Monarchy. During the Napoleonic Wars, he purchased all the military materials that had been seized by the French and later sold them on the Austrian army for a minimum profit. He loaned a considerable amount of money to the emperor with a view to expediting the withdrawal of French troops from Vienna. He provided many expert opinions on banking and was involved in a number of negotiations relating to the monarchy's customs and trade policies. In recognition of his services, he was raised to the hereditary nobility with the predicate 'Edler von Lämel'. He supported efforts aimed at granting equal rights to Jews and sought to bring about the abolition of the Jewish Tax in the Bohemian lands. He managed to get this tax reduced and offered to pay the tax arrears of local Jews. He died on the 18th of April 1845 in Vienna, where he was interred. His business and public activities were continued by his son Leopold von Lämel (1790-1867).
 
This silver-gilt Torah shield, made in Nuremberg by the famous silversmith Beckensteiner, is a fairly unique example in the Bohemian lands of quality Judaica from southern Germany; the fact that the name of the person who had it made is known makes it all the more precious. It was commissioned by Lämel of Tuschkau who, together with his wife Rebecca, donated the shield to the Maisel Synagogue in Prague. A reference to the donor's name, the shield contains an unusual iconographic detail – the figures of lambs (instead of the customary lions) standing on protruding columns (das Lämmel = lamb).
A second dedicatory inscription was added to the base of the columns by the donor's son, Simon von Lämel, who had the shield repaired in 1826 and arranged for a copy to be made for the synagogue near his home in Vienna. This copy has been preserved at the Jewish Museum of Vienna.
 
In addition to this shield, the Jewish Museum in Prague also has a memorial document on the abolition of the Jewish Tax and an album of portraits and photographs of the von Lämel family, including portraits of Simon and his wife Babette, neé Duschenes (d. 1853).
 
Translation of the first dedicatory inscription:
Lämel, son of Zeligman, of blessed memory, of Tuschkau and his wife Rebecca of Prague, long may she live. Made in the year (5)523 according to the minor era (= 1763).”
 
Translation of the second dedicatory inscription:
This is a sacred utensil that was donated by my parents of blessed memory, [and] restored by their son, previously known as Zelke Tuschkau. Through the mercifulness of our lord, Emperor Francis I, I was given the title Edler von Lämel in the year (5)586 according to the minor era (= 1826).
And so our Lord, the Emperor, may his majesty be elevated, showed mercifulness and goodness to me and my descendants by granting us permission to inscribe the coat of arms – as to one of the princes and noblemen of the country – which is before you. In the year “and all his acts of power” (Esther 10:2) according to the minor era (year in the chronogram: (5)586 = 1826).”

Portrait of Simons´s wife Babette (Inv. No. 012.859)

Portrait of Simon von Lämel (Inv. No. 012.860)

Memorial document (Inv. No. 012.971)