Yad (Torah pointer) c. 20th century

This silver Yad, or Torah pointer, was made by an anonymous artist, sometime in the past. It's a beautiful object, so smooth and refined, you can really imagine someone crafting it with love and care. The surface is highly polished, reflecting light like a mirror. And you can see the marks of the silversmith, the tiny hammer blows that shaped the metal, these marks speak to the human element of the piece. It is so tactile; it makes me think about how much handling it has had over the years. I love how the design culminates in a tiny hand with its index finger extended. The overall form is so graceful; this is design as a spiritual process, so close to what artists like Agnes Martin and Brancusi were striving for. When you look at it, you can tell it was made to last, to be passed down through generations. Like art, it's an ongoing conversation.