Catalog of Catalogs Online, A Bibliography of Temporary Exhibition Catalogs Since 1876 that Contain Items of Judaica

Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses. The Synagogue to the Carousel, Jewish Carving Traditions
(283 words)

Author & Curator

Murray Zimiles.

Imprint

New York City, USA, 2007. xviii, 170 pp., illustrations: 82 col., 32 b&w, 28.5 × 22 cm. English.

ISBN

9781584656371

Location

American Folk Art Museum (2 October 2007–23 March 2008)

Description

The journey of Jewish woodcarvers and other artisans from Eastern and Central Europe to America, and the resulting connection between carved wooden synagogue furnishings in the Old World and carved wooden carousel horses (and other animals) in the New. Introductory essay by Vivian B. Mann describes relevant forms of Jewish folk art (synagogue architecture, wall decorations, and tombstones) that developed in Eastern Europe and were transplanted to America. Central essay by Murray Zimiles focuses on Jewish life in the New World, its synagogues, and its carvers (both synagogue and carousel). Tombstones and papercuts figure prominently as comparative material. Detailed descriptions of illustrated objects. No itemized listing.

main keywords

CAROUSEL ANIMALS
FOLK ART
PAPERCUTS
PHOTOGRAPHS
SYNAGOGUES
SYNAGOGUES, ARCHITECTURE
UNITED STATES
TOMBSTONES
TORAH ARKS
WOODCARVING

minor keywords

Amulets
Carmel, Charles
Eastern Europe
Goldstein, Harry
Historical photographs
Illions, Marcus Charles
Kiddush Levana, decorated
Mizrach
New York City
Omer calendars
Shiviti plaques, paper
Stein, Solomon
Sukkah decorations
Sukkah decorations, Ushpizin
Synagogues, Eastern Europe
Synagogues, masonry
Synagogues, United States
Synagogues, wall paintings
Synagogues, wooden
Tombstones, Eastern Europe
Yahrzeit/Memorial plaques/sheets
Zodiac signs

Related ephemera

Exhibition postcard, 22.8 × 10.2 cm; Collection of press articles related to the exhibition; Article on the exhibition by Murray Zimiles, Folk Art, Magazine of the American Folk Art Museum, Fall 2007, pp. 42–51; Promotional material for “The Synagogue & the Carousel. Polish Wooden Synagogues, A Heritage Destroyed. American Folk Art, A Tradition Enriched”, a video production by Murray Zimiles offered as a one-hour television documentary, including historical text, detailed description of the production, and b&w images. 71 pp. (incl. 40 pp. of illustrations), 28 × 21.8 cm.

Other venues

Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, N.Y., USA (24 May–1 September 2008)

Cite this page
“Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses. The Synagogue to the Carousel, Jewish Carving Traditions”, in: Catalog of Catalogs Online, A Bibliography of Temporary Exhibition Catalogs Since 1876 that Contain Items of Judaica. Consulted online on 30 May 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004444522_COCO_CC1904>
First published online: 2019



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