Mohel knife
Object numberM2014/023:001
TitleMohel knife
DescriptionCircumcision set consisting of two instruments - a mohel knife with fluted silver handle and a brass circumcision shield, housed in original hinged-lid leather case. The knife has a flat steel blade sharpened on both edges. There are marking on the steel blade, and visible yet indecipherable remnants of silver hallmarking on the handle. The silver bolster is decorated with a simple cut and engraved tulip shape (kylix). The leather case closes with two clasps with cream colour leather inside pressed into the shape of knife and the shield.
The material, shape and simple decoration of the set would point to the mid-late 1800. With a closer examination of the marking, it is believed that more accurate dating and provenance is possible: it appears that the mohel knife has been assembled of three individual parts, ie the steel blade taken from an ordinary table knife and shaped and sharpened as required. The faceted fluted silver handle bears a mark pointing to a re-charge hallmark used in central Europe between 1806-09 (Tardy, p. 71,74,398) and would have most likely been originally part of a dinner table knife set. The engraved silver bolster links the two parts together and is crude, pointing to a 'home' production.
A Jewish religious male circumcision ceremony, brit milah (Hebrew: בְּרִית מִילָה,) is performed by a mohel on the eighth day of a male infant's life. Of all of the commandments in Judaism, the Circumcision is probably the one most universally observed. It is therefore significant for the museum to acquire its first complete circumcision set to document and illustrate this ancient ritual which remains in contemporary practice, full of controversy, to these days.
Typically, circumcision sets consist of more instruments and silver implements, ie. apart from knife and shield, there can be silver trays, clip, pointer, silver flask and various spice vessels.
The material, shape and simple decoration of the set would point to the mid-late 1800. With a closer examination of the marking, it is believed that more accurate dating and provenance is possible: it appears that the mohel knife has been assembled of three individual parts, ie the steel blade taken from an ordinary table knife and shaped and sharpened as required. The faceted fluted silver handle bears a mark pointing to a re-charge hallmark used in central Europe between 1806-09 (Tardy, p. 71,74,398) and would have most likely been originally part of a dinner table knife set. The engraved silver bolster links the two parts together and is crude, pointing to a 'home' production.
A Jewish religious male circumcision ceremony, brit milah (Hebrew: בְּרִית מִילָה,) is performed by a mohel on the eighth day of a male infant's life. Of all of the commandments in Judaism, the Circumcision is probably the one most universally observed. It is therefore significant for the museum to acquire its first complete circumcision set to document and illustrate this ancient ritual which remains in contemporary practice, full of controversy, to these days.
Typically, circumcision sets consist of more instruments and silver implements, ie. apart from knife and shield, there can be silver trays, clip, pointer, silver flask and various spice vessels.
Subjectcircumcision, Judaism
Object namecircumcision boxes
Materialsilver
Dimensions
- length: 148.00 mm
width: 18.00 mm
depth: 8.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Clio Hertzberg