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Your Price: $ 225.00
Item Number: 00027
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I purchased this from a prominent Jewish family in Atlanta many years ago, and because of my own roots, I kept it in my collection. Now, exclusively for your consideration comes this very special antique copper and wooden bed warmer. I am not an expert, so please bear with me. I was told that thisis an authentic late Georgian to early Victorian era piece dating back to the early 1800s. It came from Europe. It is made of copper that has been pierced with cut out shapes of stars, crecents, hearts, diamonds, and circles. It is very irregular and obviously done individually and by hand. The long wooden handle, I'm told is a later addition, the original one evidently needed replacing over the years. However, the handle has some alligator crazing on it and is turned on the end, making me believe it is still over a hundred years old. It's attached to the copper section with a wonderfully aged iron fitting. The bedwarmer itself is hinged and crudely constructed, obviously hand made. The handle is about 38" long and the copper warmer itself is about 10" in diameter and 5 1/2" thick. What makes this piece of exceptional historical value is that in the center, very faintly, is the subtle etching of a Jewish star or Star of David (Mogen David). It was very difficult to capture it with my camera, but it is most definitely there. When I purchased it, the owner told me that the star was a way for a Jewish person in Europe to remain loyal to their beliefs without exposing the fact that they were Jews. Not being an expert on the history of anti Semitism, I cannot say for sure exactly where this was occuring. I really am more knowledgeable of the Holocaust during this century and of Hitler, but according to my source, it was necessary to hide your Jewish heritage long before Hitler's Germany.
One of my pictures is an attempt to show you some of the faint etching of the star...please feel free to email me directly if you'd like me to attempt a clearer view of it; also, if you are familiar with more history of this, I welcome any resources or information. Given that this is a very old, perhaps nearly 200 years old, this piece is exceptional. It boasts a rich patina on the copper and appears to be original. The copper does have splits on the edges and the hinge is cracked a bit and loose, but it is better than expected and rich with character and charm. I would not do a thing to it...it's wonderful just as it is and would make an incredible decorative piece, complimenting primitive and folk art decor as well as more modern tastes. I welcome any further information about both bedwarmers in general and the Jewish significance of the star being so faintly etched. It is a fabulous piece, and any museum or personal collection would be enriched with an item of this calibre. |
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