Merchant Princes of the East and the West: Great Judaica Collectors
VIEW EVENT DETAILSEvening Presentation by Jennifer Roth, Senior Vice President and Head of Judaica Department, Sotheby's New York
Drinks reception: 6:30 pm
Presentation: 7:00 pm
Close: 8:00 pm
A panoramic sweep of Jewish history can be seen through precious objects of Judaica dating from the Medieval world until the present day. Centuries of Jewish history can be viewed through the prism of these treasures including Iraqi Torah cases — documenting a rich heritage which traveled to the Far East along with the great Hong Kong Jewish families. This illustrated talk by Jennifer Roth, Head of the Judaica Department at Sotheby's New York, will include an historical overview of the Jews of Asia, including Hong Kong and other parts of China. She will discuss the collection of Michael and Judy Steinhardt with more than 70 charity boxes representing the fundamental belief in Tzedakah and the Frankfurt Mishneh Torah (ca. 1457-65), one of the finest Hebrew illuminated manuscripts ever made. Roth will also consider the parallels between one of the most pre-eminent Judaica collections of all times — that of David Solomon Sassoon formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — and the Steinhardt collection formed a century later.
Jennifer Roth is Head of Sotheby’s Judaica and Israeli Art sales and a Board member of Sotheby’s Tel Aviv. She has helped many clients develop and curate their collections, including the estates of Michael and Doris Zagayski, the Sassoon Family, Montefiore, Furman and Delmonico collections. Roth joined Sotheby’s in 1979 as a cataloguer of Impressionist and Modern Drawings and continues to be active in Impressionist and Modern and Contemporary business development. She is an active member of the Jewish community and frequently volunteers as a benefit auctioneer. She holds an M.A. degree from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Special thanks to Sotheby’s