Mid Century Bronze Relief Plaque Sabbath Blessing Jacob Epstein 1921-2003 Judaica

Details

Description

This impressive high-relief bronze sculpture depicts a traditional Jewish woman wrapped in a headscarf, reciting the Friday night prayer over … Read more This impressive high-relief bronze sculpture depicts a traditional Jewish woman wrapped in a headscarf, reciting the Friday night prayer over the Shabbat candles. Titled Sabbath Blessing, this work features striking modern expressionist lines, stylized planar carving, and delicate incised decorative patterns along the veil and sleeves. It bears the artist's authentic cast signature, EPSTEIN JACOB, running vertically in block capital letters at the lower left corner.

Cast in thick bronze with a warm antique patina, the plaque exhibits minor natural oxidation in the deeper relief crevices. The reverse retains its raw, open-bed sand casting texture and features two original cast/brazed brass L-bracket support feet designed for upright tabletop, desk, or display cabinet presentation. Weighing a substantial 12.6 lbs, this is a significant work of mid-century Israeli sculptural art.

Artist: Jacob Epstein (Polish/Israeli, 1921–2003)

Origin: Israel

Age: Mid-20th Century (circa 1960s–1970s)

Material: Cast Bronze / Solid Copper Alloy

Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions: Approx. 13" H x 8.5" W

Weight: 12.6 lbs (5.7 kg)

Authenticity Assessment
This relief plaque is an authentic mid-century work by the Polish-Israeli sculptor and educator Jacob Epstein (1921–2003). Born in Poland and trained at the State Institute of Arts in Lviv, Epstein emigrated to Israel in 1959, co-founded the Bat-Yam Plastic Art Institute, and headed its sculpture department. The block-letter signature format EPSTEIN JACOB at the lower left, the open sand-bed casting technique, and the expressive modernist carving style match documented editions of his Sabbath Blessing relief works produced during his Israeli period. It is not a work by the British sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein (1880–1959).

Literature & Reference
Book Title: Sculptors and Sculptures of Israel
Author: Gideon Ofrat
Reference Page: See catalog sections on the mid-century Bat-Yam school and monumental Israeli relief casting (pp. 112–128).
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Historical Provenance & Design Significance:
Created by Polish-Israeli monumental sculptor Jacob Epstein (1921–2003), Sabbath Blessing captures the ceremonial ritual of Shabbat candle lighting through bold mid-century modernist forms and expressive relief work. Combining sacred Judaic iconography with the architectural aesthetic of the post-war Israeli sculpture movement, the piece stands as both a devotional object and a compelling mid-century bronze study.

Curator’s Note:
"Featuring a rich bronze patina, substantial architectural weight, and expressive high-relief silhouette, this table plaque brings exceptional texture to modern mantlepieces, bookshelves, or sideboards. An ideal focal accent for curated interiors celebrating mid-century design and fine religious art." See less