Yad
Unknown Maker
The combination of precious metal and exotic materials is rare in Judaica, making this yad a distinctive piece for its use of both gold and coral.
Place of origin: Austria/Poland
Audio transcript:
A yad, Hebrew for “hand,” is used as a way to follow along with the text in a Torah one is reading without actually touching it with a living hand. Yadayim, also called Torah pointers, often end in a sculpted hand with an extended index finger. Frequently, the pointer finger is particularly long to further contrast it from a human hand.
This yad is made from gold and coral, probably red coral, and its miniature hand wears a diamond ring. Red coral is most commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and is often used for making jewelry and sculptures due to its durability.
Most central European yadayim are made from silver or wood, so the use of coral in this particular yad is highly unusual. The combination of precious metals and exotic materials is rare in Judaica of all forms.