Very rare Italian Judaica, rabbi of Mantua personal bronze seal, 18th century For Sale

Up for sale is this extremely rare and important item, a true piece of jewish history from Italy.This seal, made from hand carved bronze with wood handle is one of a group of rare seals originatedFrom Italy, it has the inscription : בטח ב״ ועשה טוב, שכן ארץ ורעה אמונה,חותמת ר״מ לשרת בקדש בק״ק מנטובהIn english :"trust in god and do good, the seal of the rabbi of the holy community of mantua, you will live on the land and love the faith"Its interasting that while researching this seal online we found a latter dated to 1854 from the rabbi of mantua to the rabbi of haag.The latter has the imprint of this seal on it, and because the seal dose not have a name on it, it was passed by the rabbis of the city, (by the style of the seal and the age wear we can say this seal was made in the 18th century or at the early 19th century.)On the time the latter (in the pictures) was written (1854) the rabbi of mantua was rabbi mordechai murtera.Italian judaica objects are very rare to come by, especially pieces with rabbinical history of any sort, here we have a sealThat was in the hand of the rabbi of the community, mantua jews are from the most important in italian jews history.This piece should be in a museum!.
Dimensions :Length is : 11.5 cm / 4.5 inchWidth of seal : 4 cm / 1.5 inchCondition : perfect original condition, nice worn patina to the wood and bronze parts.

The Jewish community in Mantua rose to prominence under the rule of the Gonzaga; documents date at least their presence to the 12th century. By the Start of the 17th-century, they putatively numbered over 2,000 individuals and accounted for nearly 7.5% of the population of Mantua. By 1612, under Pressure by the Papacy, Duke Vincenzo, Gozagaenforced the segregation of the ghetto. The area comprised by streets now named Dottrina Cristiana, Pomponazzo, Calvi, Spagnoli and Giustiziati was enclosed by four gates that were closed from dusk to dawn. The situation of Jews in Mantua worsened in 1629?1630 during the siege and subsequent sack of Mantua during the War of the Mantuan Succession; the city was afflicted with the plague, when after Months of siege, in July 1630, Mantua was sacked for three days by mercenary Landsknechttroops led by Count Aldringen and Gallas fighting for Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor.

With deposition of Duke Ferdinand Carlo Gonzaga.by 1707 by the Hapsburg Emperor Joseph I, some civil liberties were granted to the Jews. However, Abolition of the ghetto gates did not occur until the Napoleonic invasions in 1798, thus allowing Jews to live freely through the town. A guide from 1866 Notes that the area had multiple synagogues, some designed by Bibiena and followers. A synagogue designed byGiovanni Battista Verganiwas Inaugurated on 30 December 1843.[1]The area of the ghetto is no longer a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and there are few structural and Geographic details that recall the prior history. The late 17th-centuryRabbi's houseon Via Bertani has sculpted relief plaques with views of the town.

Until the 19th century, Mantua was Lombardy's only significant Jewish community. Many Mantuan Jews later moved to Milan, and the Milan community Originally developed as a branch of that in Mantua, until the 19th century, mantua was lombardys only significiant jewish community. many mantuan jews jews later moved to Milan, and the Milan community originaly developed as a branch of that in Mantua.

Today, almost nothing of the Mantoan Ghetto remains, the area was transformed by urban redevelopment at the turn of the 20th century, the only evidance still remains is the front of the Rabbi house, this seal is one of the last objects we have today from the important community and it was once housed at this important house which is now called the "Rabbi house".