Judaic glass[and Gold] menorah?More Info......Comments

[Nassif]

hi all;
I am posting this amazing and very tiny glass[or crystal??] deeply incrusted with 7 branches menorah from the holy land :
-15 mm
-Thickness:1 mm
-W:0,7 g
Menorah with 7 branches in the middle with mystery signs in the r.field...
i don't have any idea what it could be:roman or judaic Pendant ???Or judaic glass weight??or something else??
thanks in advance for all your contributions...
Regards.
Nassif

[Robert_Brenchley]

Interesting. Seven-branched menorahs aren't much seen today due to a Talmudic injunction forbidding them, but that's 3rd Century AD at least, and not everyone may have followed it.

[Salem Alshdaifat]

Nice found if authentic.
lead seals with Menorah and glass with Menorah mostly comes from Lebanon as stamp seales, I dont know how religus were the Jews in Lebanon but I have seen all so far with seven branches and probably all from the Byzantine era.
best regards
Salem

[Nassif]

No doubt-AUTHENTIC 100%-Found with ancient artifacts prior to the Byzantine area....The glass is so thin that i am wondering how it was done and deeply incrusted with light irridescent area.I found nothing similar in old judaic art,or in major sales or auctions....
Really something very special............

[Salem Alshdaifat]

Hello Nassif
if it is %100 Authentic then it is realy a nice found.
best regards
Salem

[Nassif]

Found in Tyre area [south actual Lebanon...].I still searching for similar artifact since several days through museums,auctions or major sales,and today i found something similar at EdgarLOwen Gallery;item 8678,and here the link:
http://www.edgarlowen.com/
Robert was right...3rd -4th Cent. AD.??
Nassif
PS:Photo below

[Nassif]

I still looking and searching[Good way to learn more....],and here some new findings:
-There is traces of remaining gold on the glass.
-I have found two lead bullae with 7 branched Menorah[in Auction...],the 2nd one is very similar to mine in shape with traces of Aramaic legend in the field;here the link:# 527 & 528.
http://www.archaeological-center.com/en/auctions/40/P501/50
Regards.
Nassif.
By the Way :HAPPY NEW YEAR to all...............................

[Nassif]

A superb and 100% authentic Gold Menorah was offered to me,around 2 cm,very light[less than 1 g],and very very thin with a lot of weakness;withh some letters or signs below:may be ??something like umbrella?or  ,than W....
The price was out of reason and of course far from my budget....

Nassif
Sorry:No photos...my camera was not with me...

[Nassif]

Very interesting study,here the link:
http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/sbf/Books/LA56/LA56521Cravinho-Shua_Intaglio.pdf

Sale auction of pendant glass menorah:
http://v2.archaeological-center.com/cgi-bin/build.cgi?display=showcase&page=auctions/28/51&site=ac

regards.
Nassif

[collectantic]

Hello,

If authentic it is rare and very expensive.

Some here: http://www.sassonancientart.com/artwork_cat_8.html

regards