A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
Judaica silver torah pointer (Yad)
unfortunately this silver torah pointer (Yad) wasn't made in Moskow (Russia) in 1873 but is of
modern manufacture with fakes Imperial Russia marks.It bears a small turquoise stone and fake marks of silversmith (IA) and essayer (VS) in cyrillic.
The 'pointer' is an element often included in Torah decoration. It is called 'yad', the Hebrew word for 'hand'.
The pointer usually hangs on a chain from the Torah staves. Because everything connected with the Torah is particularly sacred, it is considered disrespectful to touch the text when reading the passages.
This is not only for reasons of respect but also because the constant touching with the finger would eventually soil the Torah and require it to be reinscribed.
When not in use, the yad is hung next to the Torah shield and over the mantle.
Beware!! Today most of the Russian silver and Judaica silver are new or fake
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| Russian silver marks | Italian silver marks | French silver marks | English silver marks | USA silver marks |
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| Germany | Hanau | Austria | Mexico |
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| American Silver Plate marks | English Electroplate silver marks | Old Sheffied Plate marks |
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| Elkington | Georg Jensen | Gorham Corporation | Tiffany & Co | WMF | Reed & Barton | Mappin & Webb |