Shanah Tovah to those celebrating Rosh Hashanah ✨ Celebrate the New Year with this recent acquisition from The Met's Department of European Sculpture and Design—a pair of late 18th-century Torah finials from Galicia, present day Poland and Ukraine. Standing at just 6.5 inches tall, these petite finials feature an openwork crown and detailed ornamentation. Each base has three richly decorated tiers: a frieze of animals that includes a bear, owl, hare, fox, phoenix, and lion faces; a laurel garland; and openwork scrolls set with freshwater pearls, rubies, and emeralds. Known in Hebrew as Rimmonim, these finials are placed on the staves of Torah scrolls. Silver objects like these symbolize the sacredness of the Torah and the beautification of the ritual. Formerly in the French branch of the Rothschild family's collection, these finials are currently on view in Gallery 551. ___ Pair of Torah finials (Rimmonim), 1775-1790, Austrian, Galicia (present day Poland/Ukraine), Silver, partially gilded, rubies, emeralds, freshwater pearls, enamel, colored glass, Purchase, Dina Axelrad Perry and Ruth and Andrew Suzman Gifts, 2023. (fb)

📢 On Friday, October 3 at 6 pm, join us at The Met for a conversation between fashion pioneer Dapper Dan and guest curator Monica L. Miller to mark the final month of "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style". The two will discuss the designer’s enduring impact on fashion and culture, his personal reflections on dandyism and style, and the ideas that continue to inspire his work today. Dapper Dan innovated streetwear in the early 1980s, co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end details—as seen in his rare 1987 ensemble on view in "Superfine Style". Register: https://met.org/3VZVEvc ___ 📷: Tyler Mitchell (fb)