Tapestry
Object numberM2016/037:001
TitleTapestry
DescriptionSmall tapestry depicting the Tomb of Rachel. It belonged to Holocaust survivors Lilly and Mano Somogy and was donated by their daughter Jody. The family fled Hungary in December, 1956, leaving behind the unrest of the Hungarian Revolution and the oppressive climate of Soviet rule. Initially, the Somogy family secured passage to Israel; within a few years, however, they followed Lilly’s Brother and Sister to begin a new life in Australia.
Whilst the precise date of its manufacture is unknown, the tapestry was brought to Australia in 1960, so the object was obtained some time prior to this. It was one of a few belongings that Lilly and Mano salvaged from their life in Hungary. In a climate whereby religious life was severely restricted and secular identity shunned, this decorative cloth was a risky possession; particularly given its Hebrew references to Zion, Jerusalem and commandments from the Torah. Many Jews, the Somogy family included, exercised a public life of assimilation, concealing their Jewishness and appearing to conform to the national consciousness. For Jody, as for many Jewish children growing up under this regime, her Jewish identity was not revealed until after the family escaped.
This tapestry and its clandestine history, is an anchor to a broader story. For Lilly Somogy, survivor of Kraków-Płaszów and Auschwitz, defiance and concealment, were instrumental in preserving her life and that of her sister during the war. This tapestry and its conservation through persecution and resettlement are a testament to the will and tenacity of Lilly and Mano to hold true to their identity.
Whilst the precise date of its manufacture is unknown, the tapestry was brought to Australia in 1960, so the object was obtained some time prior to this. It was one of a few belongings that Lilly and Mano salvaged from their life in Hungary. In a climate whereby religious life was severely restricted and secular identity shunned, this decorative cloth was a risky possession; particularly given its Hebrew references to Zion, Jerusalem and commandments from the Torah. Many Jews, the Somogy family included, exercised a public life of assimilation, concealing their Jewishness and appearing to conform to the national consciousness. For Jody, as for many Jewish children growing up under this regime, her Jewish identity was not revealed until after the family escaped.
This tapestry and its clandestine history, is an anchor to a broader story. For Lilly Somogy, survivor of Kraków-Płaszów and Auschwitz, defiance and concealment, were instrumental in preserving her life and that of her sister during the war. This tapestry and its conservation through persecution and resettlement are a testament to the will and tenacity of Lilly and Mano to hold true to their identity.
Production date 1930 - 1950
Production period20th century
Object namedecorative art
Materialwool
Dimensions
- width: 470.00 mm
height: 470.00 mm
Language
- Hebrew Crescent Moons: '
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Jody Somogy