Selections of contemporary and traditional yads from Barr Foundation collection are going on the road!

The national tour of highlights of America's largest and most diverse private collection of Torah pointers will take these outstanding examples to the following venues in the coming months.
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EXHIBITIONS


The Breman Museum, Atlanta, GA Mid-September – Late December 2023

Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center at Christopher Newport University, Newport New, VA – January 20 - March 24, 2024

Cincinnati Skirball Museum, Cincinnati, OH – April 11 - July 28, 2024

Wendell Castle

American, born 1932 Le Roy, N.Y.
Silver and stained walnut; Hand: signfoam and acrylic paint, Table: rosewood, maple wood 8 in. high. Made 2004
Jennifer Banks
Jennifer Banks

Jennifer Banks

American, born
Ebony, copper, silver; Stand: copper, silver, resin 8in. Made 2007

Reddish Studio

Naama Steinbolk, Israeli, born 1975 and Idan Friedman, Israeli, born 1975
Cast aluminum, silver plated; coral beads. Made 2011

Tobi Kahn

American, born 1952 Resides in Long Island City, NY.
Wood, acrylic 7 3/4 in. Made 2000

Michele Oka Doner

American, born 1945 Resides in New York, N.Y.
Bronze and sterling silver 5 in. Made 2000

Ina Golub

American, born 1938, and Kurt Matzdorf, American, born Germany, 1922-2008.
Wood, glass beads, silver 8.5 in. Made 1993

Linda Gissen

American, 1937-2015 Resided in Norfolk, VA
Welded metal 9 in. Made 2000

Liza Nechamkin

American, born 1973 Resides in Roxbury Township, N.J.
Sterling silver, Carnelian 8.75 in. Made 2000

Seth Rolland

American, born 1963 Resides in Port Townsend, Washington.
Padouk wood and maple 12.5 in. Made 2001

Harley Swedler

Born Canada, 1962 Resides in Connecticut
Stainless steel; Grip: cast aluminum, brass pins 12 in. Made 2002

Gerald Benney

British, 1930-2008
Silver, gold, enamel 9.25 in. Made 2000
JoAnne Russo
JoAnne Russo
JoAnne Russo

JoAnne Russo

American, born 1956 Resides in Saxtons River, VT.
Basketweave, various beads, fishbone, linen thread, porcupine quill 12.5 in. Made 2011

John Iversen

Born Germany, 1953 Resides in East Hampton, NY
Gold with pearls and coral. Acquired 2010

Donald Friedlich

American, born 1954 Resides in Madison, Wisconsin
Glass, metal, gold 8.75 in. Made 2006
Janna Syvanoja
Janna Syvanoja

Janna Syvanoja

Finnish white paper resembles feather, steel tip in shape of bird's head 9.5 inches. Made 2002

Philipp Aduatz

Born Vienna, Austria 1941
Polyurethane, black glossy finish 10.5 in. Made 2012
Bennett Bean
Bennett Bean

Bennett Bean

American, born Blairtown, N.J. 1941
Pit fired, painted and gilded earthenware 9.75 x 3.75 x.75 in. Made 2012

Harold Rabinowitz

American, born New York Resides in East Hills, NY Silver 10.5 in.
Marian Slepian
Marian Slepian

Marian Slepian

American, born 1960 Resides in Bridgewater, N.J. 1934
Metal, cloisonne enamel 10.5 in. Made in 2002
Yaakov Greenvurcel
Yaakov Greenvurcel

Yaakov Greenvurcel

Israeli, born Poland
Anodized aluminum 9 in. Made 1999 Jerusalem

Liza Nechamkin

American, born 1973 Resides in Roxbury Township, New Jersey 1973
Sterling silver, gold, pearls 10.5 in. Made 2002

George Worthington

American, born 1956 Resides in Saugerties, N.Y. 1956
Pear wood Made 2010

Richard Bitterman,

American sculptor/artist, 2000

Hana Bahar Paneth

Israeli, born Jersalem 1936
Ebony/rosewood silver 10 in. Made 1998

Hanna Bahar Paneth

Born Jerusalem 1936
Rosewood and silver

Elena Spano

Born Florence, Italy
Plexiglas, gold rivets10 in. Made 2004

Carolyn Morris Bach

American born Reside in Rhode Island
Fine silver, cooper, petrified wood, fossilized walrus tusk ivory and badger hair bristles. Made 2014
Darlys Ewoldt

Darlys Ewoldt

Born in Iowa Resides in Chicago, IL
Forged and fabricated from copper sheet. Coloration is achieved with chemical patinas, dye oxides and mica powder. Made 2014
Munya Avigail Upin

Munya Avigail Upin

Top is "twined" fine silver in a traditional basketry technique and the long twisted piece is silver plated brass. The stone on top is moonstone and the bottom is bone Artist: Munya Avigail Upin, M.A. in Silversmithing. Jewelry instructor and lecturer in Massachusetts 1999. 6.25 inches
Bernard Bernstein

Bernard Bernstein

American born 1928 Ebony rosewood and metal
Liv Blavarp
Liv Blavarp

Liv Blavarp

Norwegian, born 1956
Grenadill, maple, palisander, and whale tooth 11 in. Made 2012
Torah Pointer

Pea Pod Torah Pointer

Shaped paper with gilding and orb shape forming a pea.
Anika Smulovitz

Torah Pointer

Anika Smulovitz, Sterling, 18k gold and aquamarine, 2012
Anika Smulovitz “In Honor of the Matriarchs”

Anika Smulovitz “In Honor of the Matriarchs”

acknowledging the matriarchs vital role in keeping traditions alive. Sterling silver, antique mother-of-pearl buttons with embroidery needles for point. Phoenix born 1974. Resides in Boise, Idaho. Teacher. Made 2012 commission by Barr Foundation
Suri Srulovitch

Suri Srulovitch

Born and resides in Jerusalem, Israel
Silver undulating yad. Made 2011.
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Carved wood, mother of pearl and ivory, 20.25 in. Cochin, Indian 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver and wood with swirled ivory handle with inset silver chain. Probably German 15.25 inches. Circa 1860
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Wood and ivory 16.75 in. Palestine, C. 1925
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Carved ivory, 13 in. Europe, 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Coral and parcel gilt silver, 11 in. Northern Italy 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Wood with three moveable spheres, 12 in. Inscription: dedicated to Rav Leib Shaier and the Rebetzen Hindkha German. Made 1789
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Ebony, silver 16 in. Probably English Circa 1800
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Wood 10 in. Poland 19th century
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Carved wood, the mid-section with shell work decoration enclosing an open rectangle containing a moveable sphere, terminating in a cuffed hand 8.75 inches. 18th Century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Extremely rare - dark green ceramic with white ceramic hand, 9 inches. 19th Century Alsace. Acquired from Moriah Galleries in 2008
South Pacific
South Pacific

South Pacific

Made of spent bullets in the South Pacific during World War II
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

An extremely rare and fine pointer with filigree shaft segmented with filigree ball and matching final, terminating in cuffed hand with ruby ring. C. 1700 Alsace Acquired from Moriah Galleries in 1996
Holland Torah Pointer

Holland Torah Pointer

Miniature silver, 3.75 in. Holland Made 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver gilt with garnets, turquoise, 11 in. Vienna, Austria Late 19th century
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver, 9.5 in. Probably Italy Made in 17th-18th century
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Circa 1900 Pointer: Silver 7.5 in.
Torah Pointer

Iranian Torah Pointer

Silver 9.25 in. Iran Late 19th century
African Torah Pointer

African Torah Pointer

Parcel gilt metal with intricate chain, 8.75 in. North African 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Traveling Pointer: Silver and Bronze, 3 in. Hungary Made late 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

American “Federal” Period Extremely rare, elaborate columnar shape with large bird finial holding a bell in its beak. Engraved on the hand in Hebrew: “Holy Congregation B.R.” Probably from one of the abandoned New York lower east side synagogues. 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver shaft with an intricate leaf and vine design continuing on the rounded finial. Terminates in a pointed and cuffed gilded hand. 9.5 inches C. 1880 Russia Acquired J. Greenstein & Company 2005
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Indian Torah Pointer

Unusually large finely chased silver with an elephant finial and extra large hand. 18.25 inches Indian Made 19th century
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Afghanistani Torah Pointer

A splendid and large parcel gilt silver torah pointer inset with coral and turquoise. Large ball finial and smaller ball knop fitted with pointed hand. Early 20th century Afghanistan.
Torah Pointer

Parcel Gilt Torah Pointer

Parcel Gilt Torah Pointer Parcel gilt silver, twisted shaft with square handle with open "mihrab" shaped finial terminating with pointed hand. 7.5 inches. C. 1800 Acquired from Moriah Galleries in 1996
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

A rare wood and ivory pointer. Ivory finial carved with an architectural scene of Zfat and inscribed in Hebrew “The Ha’ari Synagogue, Zfat, 9.25 inches. Acquired from Sotheby’s Tel Aviv Made 1891
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver gilt torah pointer (probably Austrian). Hexagonal baluster form with engine-turned panels, double-cuffed hand, short chain 6.38 inches. Circa 1860 Acquired from Sotheby's from the Steinhardt Collection in 2013
Torah Pointer

Rare Torah Pointer

Parcel gilt with extended finger holding a quill. All surmounted by a crown and a ring holder with an oval medallion, 9 inches fat, 9.25 inches. Acquired from Sotheby’s Tel Aviv
Torah Pointer

Egyptian Torah Pointer

Silver flat tapering pointer engraved overall with scrolling, foliate and star design, 11.25 inches Made late 19th Century. Acquired from Phillips Auction in 1997
Torah Pointer

American Torah Pointer

Miriam Halpers American Gold, silver. enamel, copper and shell
7 inches Mid19th Century
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Italian carved wood and ivory. Deeply carved with fruit and flowers, central ivory band engraved "Padua 1852" and "Made by my hand". Ivory hand terminal and carved ivory coronet finial, the top carved with inscription "Menasseh, Son of Moses" 10 inches. Acquired from Sotheby's from the Steinhardt Collection in 2013
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Two part torah pointer and stand. Intricate carving on the finial in Hebrew with leaf motif. Includes an accompanying parchment of Hofheimer Barr family tree. 9.5 inches
Torah Pointer

Angela Bubash Torah Pointer

Sterling silver and carnelian 2013
Torah Pointer

Moshe Zabari Torah Pointer

Handmade silver torah pointer by Moshe Zabari in the shape of an elongated fingernail. Marked with applied words "emet" (truth)., 5 inches Acquired from J. Greenstein & Co. in 2013
Torah Pointer

Phillip Weber Torah Pointer

Torah pointer and stand of ebony and osage orange wood. Made 2014
Torah Pointer

Michael Ende silver Bezalel

The four sided middle section decorated with varying floral, foliate and vine designs. Some incorporating pomegranates. The center and top fitted with bells. The top a gold star of David and suspension chain. Pointing hand fully marked 10.5 inches Made 1970's. Acquired from Phillips Auction 1997
Torah Pointer

Marit Meisler Torah Pointer

Cast concrete torah pointer. Meisler graduated at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Resides in Israel. Made 2012
Torah Pointer

Torah Pointer

Silver gilt torah pointer 6.5 inches. Accquired from auction in 2013
Torah Pointer

Avi Biryan Torah Pointer

Hammered silver with lion in polished silver and garnet eye and inset near pointed end. Zabari Jerusalem 2009
Torah Pointer

Donna Matles Torah Pointer

Copper, sterling silver, shakudo and shibuishi metals. 2010
Torah Pointer

Sylvie Lupien Torah Pointer

Sterling silver with garnets in center, red gem on finial. Resides in Montreal, Quebec 2000
Torah Pointer

Lily of the Valley Pointer

Carved jade, gold and carved pearls. by Tom Herman of Seven Fingers, 2015.
Torah Pointer
Torah Pointer

Iron Torah Pointer and Stand

Pointer: (18') and stand. By Albert Paley of New York, 2015.
Torah Pointer

Fred Tate Torah Pointer

Made of wood root, metal with a pearl. Artist is Fred Tate, a jewelry designer who studied at California State Polytechnic College at Pomona, 1971 and Austin Community College in art-metal-welded sculpture, 1993-1996. He has exhibited and sold at the Festival of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA. He is known for his ability to create uniquely engineered, three-dimensional designs. Acquired from the artist in 2013 Artist resides in Austin, Texas
Torah Pointer

Austrian Torah Pointer

Parcel gilt with openwork terminal set with colored pastes. The shaft incised with berried foliage. Austrian 19th Century 10.5 inches
Torah Pointer

19th Century Torah Pointer

Silver pointer of spiral form with spherical knop at end and the lower section terminating in a cuffed hand P. Hertz Germany 19th Century 8 inches
Torah Pointer

Russian Torah Pointer

Russian silver gilt and ebony with wide cuff. 1877 Moscow 9.5 inches
Torah Pointer

Late 19th century Torah Pointer

Silver Late 19th century, Persia 9.25 inches
Torah Pointer

Late 19th century Torah Pointer

Silver engraved with Hebrew inscription. Moroccan 10 inches
Torah Pointer

Dutch 18 Century Torah Pointer

Silver pointer with maker's mark of Willem Duyndam (Citroen 911). Upper section of quadrangular form surmounted by a spherical knop fitted with ring and hook. The hook is later, but still 18th century and by another maker, Hendrik Van Laar, Rotterdam, 1791. Dutch 18 Century 9 inches
Torah Pointer

Prague Torah Pointer

Silver with oval turquoise stone. Makers in two places - on cuff and near top above stone.
19th century. 10" long
Stacey Lee Webber Torah Pointer

Stacey Lee Webber Torah Pointer

Keyhole saw and patterned copper pennies, 15 in. 2017
Dutch 2016

Piet Cohen Torah Pointer

Dutch 2016
Late 19th Century

Late 19th Century Torah Pointer

Italian carved walnut wood and ivory depicting Binding of Isaac
Emanuela Duca

Emanuela Duca Torah Pointer

Blackend sterling silver with white South Sea baroque pearl
Tom Herman

Tom Herman, Torah Pointer

Calla lily of 2-1/2 in. hinge pearl, 25 one point full cut yellow diamonds, 18k yellow gold, Wyoming jade, 2018
Seth Michael Carson

Seth Michael Carson, Torah Pointer

Sterling and 18k yellow gold, 2018
Bruce Metcalf

Bruce Metcalf, Torah Pointer

Carved wood of lily surrounded by leaves with gold lily pointer, signed by artist, 13 in., 2018
Vicki Ambery-Smith

Vicki Ambery-Smith, Torah Pointer

Brushed silver with gilded vine and finial of Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, 7.3 in., 2018
Mila Tanya Griebel

Mila Tanya Griebel, Torah Pointer

Hallmarked sterling silver with set rubies, 12 in., 2018
Jennifer McCurdy

Jennifer McCurdy, Torah Pointer

Porcelain with gilded gold leaf detail, 12 in., 2018
David Poston

David Poston, Torah Pointer

Suffolk, England, Olive wood and recycled painted tin 2018
Robert Richter

Robert Richter, Torah Pointer

New York City -2019
Kenny Pieper

Kenny Pieper, Torah Pointer

Burnsville, NC
Blown glass, 11.75 inches
Nicole and Harry Hansen

Nicole and Harry Hansen, Torah Pointer

Salida, CO
2019
Sterling and steel
Judith Kinghorn

Judith Kinghorn, Torah Pointer

Minneapolis, MN
2019
Shagreen and gold 11.8 inches
Torah Pointer

Steve Ford

Philadelphia, PA David Forlano, Santa Fe, NM
2020
Bloom made of polymer, steel, gold leaf, sterling silver, glass beads.
Torah Pointer

John Oculick, Torah Pointer

Venice, CA
2020
Painted wood
Torah Pointer

Spencer Tinkham, Torah Pointer

Norfolk, VA
2021
Rabbit made from skateboard
Ben Caldwell

Ben Caldwell, Torah Pointer

Metalsmith, Nashville, TN
Sterling silver and mule deer antler* 8 inches
2019 *naturally shed