Objects

Kippah sewn from six wedges of cotton lamé with metallic fibres, lined with linen. Each wedge is decorated with an ornament on cotton thread padding, embroidered with bullion thread, metallic thread, sequins, plates, and paillettes – it resembles a flower with a five-petal crown issuing from an oval stalk emerging from a heart-shaped motif, with big leaves on the sides. The surrounding surface is filled with small metal sequins. The brim of the cap is trimmed with navy blue silk, and the rim is decorated with a silver-and-golden metallic lace laid out into an undulating vine pattern. A button made of metallic lace is sewn to the top of the cap’s crown.

Kippah (also called yarmulke) is a round skullcap worn by Jews as an expression of their respect for God. It is used by men and boys, primarily during prayer and Torah study, as well as when inside a synagogue, yeshiva, funeral home, or cemetery. Wearing a kippah is not an obligation dictated by Halakhic law but rather a custom rooted firmly in Middle Eastern culture, where covering one’s head symbolises respect. It is also a callback to the Biblical times, when priests wore head coverings when serving in the Temple. Many Jews wear kippot at all times, even under a hat. Most Hasidim wear black kippot on regular days and white kippot on holidays, others opt for yarmulkes in various colours and with various patterns.

The item forms part of the prewar collection of the National Museum of Przemyśl. Due to missing inventory documentation it has been impossible to determine how it became property of the Museum.