GREENSTEIN & CO. TO HOST BI-ANNUAL AUCTION FEATURING COLLECTIONS FROM PROMINENT LOCAL JEWS
Renowned Auction House Brings Judaica Items from Reb Shlomo Carlebach and Alan Dershowitz to Hands of Collectors Across the World
NEW YORK, NY, January 14th, 2016 – On March 1st, 2016, J. Greenstein & Co.’s Auction House (www.jgreenstein.com), the world renowned source for antique and rare Judaica, will host its bi-annual Judaica auction devoted solely to rare Jewish artifacts. The auction, which will be held at the Cedarhurst, Long Island gallery and hosted by Jonathan Greenstein, chief expert and president of J. Greenstein & Company, will feature 268 rare and valuable objects, 32 of which will come from the estate of one of the most well-known Rabbi’s in modern Jewish history, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and another 29 items will come from prominent Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. Items to be auctioned off include menorahs, Kiddush cups, silver Torah ornaments, spice boxes, paintings and much more.
“It is not often that two worlds of admiration come together so harmoniously,” said Jonathan Greenstein. “Jewish ritual collectibles have been a love of mine since childhood, and I have admired Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, too, since high school when I was first introduced to his music, which I continue to listen to today. We are proud to offer 25 pieces of Judaica and associated objects owned and used by the famous Rabbi.”
Highlights for this year’s auction include, from Reb Shlomo’s estate, a Sterling Silver Wine Bottle by Art Sterling from Mexico, c. 1970, estimated $3,500 – 5,500; a Silver Sabbath Candleholder from Germany, c. 1910, estimated $3,000 – 5,000; Reb Shlomo’s Teffilin probably American, c. 1950, estimated $12,000 -14,000; Reb Shlomo’s Guitar, estimate $12,000 – 15,000; and Reb Shlomo’s Piano. Items from Professor Dershowitz’s collection include, Silver Kiddush Beaker from Poland, c. 1860, estimated $3,000 – 4,000; Silver Torah Shield from Poland, c. 1802, estimated $12,000 – 15,000; Early Pewter Seder Dish from Germany, 19th century, estimated $3,000 – 4,000; Illuminated Megillah in Original Case from Jerusalem, early 20th century, estimated $4,000 – 6,000.
Additional auction items include, Chanukah lamp by Kozlo, Kielce, c. 1840, estimated $30,000-$40,000; Silver Torah Shield, Odessa, c. 1840, estimated $18,000-$22,000; Silver Chanukah Lamp, Vienna, c. 1875, estimated $25,000-$30,000; Large Silver Torah Shield by Johann August Gebhart, estimated $16,000-$22,000; Silver Torah Shield, Poland, 18th estimated $18,000-$22,000; Chanukah Menorah by Bollerman, c. 1820, estimated $20,000-$30,000; Silver spice container, Venice, 18th century, estimated $30,000-$40,000; Large Silver Torah Finials, the Netherlands, 19th Century, estimated $20,000-$30,000; Silver spice tower, Germany, mid-18th century, estimated $25,000-$30,000; Silver Torah shield, Italy 1792, estimated $42,500-$55,000; Sterling Silver Torah crown by Ludwig Wolpert, New York, c. 1960, estimated $25,000-$35,000; Painting by Mane Katz, Paris, 1935, estimated $25,000-$35,000; Painting by Isaac Holtz, New York, 1967, estimated $20,000-$30,000; Silver Filigree spice tower, Lemberg, 18th century, estimated $18,000-$22,000; and a Silver Cohanic laver and basin, Vienna, C. 1880, estimated $30,000-$40,000.
Lot 28
“My family and I are thrilled by the opportunity to reinvigorate the Carlebach Foundation and to support the continuance of my father’s legacy,” said Neshama Carlebach, daughter of the late Rabbi and executor of his estate. “His words of Torah, his music, and his light are so present. Concurrently with the auction, I’m releasing a new recording entitled “Soul Daughter” and am donating all proceeds from album sales back to the foundation. This auction and the accompanying CD will create new moments for my father’s work and will take his legacy to a new level.”
“It has been a policy of mine for a long time to always bring a piece of Judaica back from my travels,” said Alan Dershowitz. “I truly believe that the essence of Judaica is ‘from generation to generation’ – that is, that it should be passed down so that we never forget where we came from and so that the memories and treasures of others live on through Judaism and through Jewish history.”
The gallery, based in a 1500-sq-ft location in Long Island, NY, hosts numerous historic pieces from around the world, many of which will be featured in the auction. Currently, the J. Greenstein & Co. Auction House is the country’s only house solely devoted to the sale of Jewish ritual objects. In past years, Greenstein’s Auction House rose to fame from hosting celebrity Judaica including Sammy Davis Jr.’s personal menorah and items from victims of the Bernard Madoff scandal.