Circular Plate for Ben Uri (Halevi)

This plate has been identified by David Mazower as probably the work of one of the early Ben Uri studio members, possibly based on a Berson design, or from his own imagination. The letters around the rim are much simpler and cruder than Berson's own work, and the plate is not signed. The Hebrew lettering gives the name of the great Spanish-Jewish ‘Golden Age’ medieval poet R’ Yehuda Halevi and a quote from one of his famous devotional poems: ‘Tsiyon! Halo tish’ali lishlom asirayich’, translating as “Zion! Do you wonder about your captives now?’ The plate sees him facing Jerusalem. Halevi made his pilgrimage to Jerusalem via Egypt and, according to legend, as he bent to kiss the ground he was run over by an Arab horse rider. We are grateful to David Mazower for help in compiling this label.