Rare 1948 Transition Copper Plate Tzfat Canaan Workshop Palestine & Israel Marks

Details

Description

Featuring the exceptionally rare triple-hallmark of Tzfat, the Palestine Mandate, and the State of Israel, this specimen represents a "captured … Read more Featuring the exceptionally rare triple-hallmark of Tzfat, the Palestine Mandate, and the State of Israel, this specimen represents a "captured moment" in history. This specific plate was manufactured in the Canaan Workshop in Tzfat (Safed) during the height of the 1948 transition. It carries the original "Hand Made Palestine" export die stamp, which was then administratively over-stamped with "Product of Israel" immediately following the declaration of statehood.

The central repoussé medallion features Shulamit (Song of Songs), a motif deeply tied to the Galilee landscape where this piece was created. The historical weight of this item is amplified by its origin in Safed, a city at the epicenter of the 1948 conflict. For a collection focusing on the birth of the State or the metalwork of the Galilee, this is an indispensable anchor piece.

This is not merely a decorative object; it is a physical witness to the May 1948 transition of power.

Item Specifics
Significance: 1948 Statehood "Transition" Over-stamp (Museum Rarity)

Maker/Workshop: Canaan Workshop, Tzfat (Safed) - Galilee Region

Marks: Rare Triple-Stamp: "Hand Made Palestine" + "Product of Israel" + Canaan Hallmark

Era: May 1948 (End of British Mandate / Birth of the State of Israel)

Subject: Shulamit with Gazelles (Iconic Zionist Biblical Motif)

Material: Solid Copper (Heavy Gauge)

Diameter: 7 Inches (18 cm)

Weight: 178 Grams

Hallmark and Provenance
The reverse of the plate features a highly significant triple-mark configuration:

"Hand Made Palestine": The original British Mandate-era export stamp.

"Product of Israel": The historic over-stamp added to existing inventory during the statehood transition in 1948.

"Canaan Tzfat" (כנען צפת): The hallmark of the Canaan workshop located in the mystical Galilee city of Safed (Tzfat).

Archival Integrity
Historical Patina: In keeping with professional conservation standards, we have maintained the original as-found patina. The deep, warm oxidation is a hallmark of its 80-year history and has not been polished, ensuring its value as a primary source artifact is preserved.

Reference: Early Israeli Arts and Crafts: The Metalwork of the British Mandate, by Nurit Kenaan-Kedar. Context: The author details the Canaanite Style and the specific transition of Galilee workshops during the late 1940s. The "Shulamit and Deer" motif is identified as a primary symbol of the era's artistic shift (Pages 42–45). See less