From Opium to Torah: Explore the Complex History of the Sassoon Family at the Jewish Museum

by Joelle
Exhibition
William Melville portrait of David Sasson 1840 oil on canvasJohn Singer Sargent, Sir Philip Sassoon, 1923; Hand of Philip Sassoon, 1923
John Singer Sargent, Sybil, Countess of Rocksavage, 1913Marriage contract of Mikhael Gubbay and Sarah Gubbay Baghdad, 1764 Ink and appliqué decorative paper on paper Benjamin Zucker Family Collection, formerly in the David Solomon Sassoon CollectionTorah and haftarah scrolls in cases commissioned by Flora Sassoon,Torah finials Schoonhoven, Netherlands, 1840-57David Sassoon's desk seal, probably 1863 or 1864. bloodstone, seal set with gold, precious stones, and pearls, Norfolk, UK, Houghton Hall Collection. David Sassoon was granted arms on December 20, 1862. The seal bears the Sassoons motto, "Truth and Faith," in both Latin, Candide et Constanter, and Hebrew, Emet ve-emunah. The phrase is recited after the shema, a central Jewish prayer.Casket with a painting of Bocca Tigris, a strait on the Pearl River Delta, early 19th centuryMarriage contract of Mozelle (Mazal Tov) Sassoon and Elias David Ezra Pune, India, 1870 Print and ink on parchment Benkarin Zucker Family Collection, formerly in the Darid Solomon Sassoon Collection Mozelle was the daughter of Hannah Khatun and Albert Abdullah Sassoon, David Sassoon's eldest son. Her bridegroom, Ellas, belonged to another prominent Baghdad Jewish family. the Ezras, who were based in Kolkata. The decorative program of their ketubbah follows a Dutch model, a short-lived trend among Baghdach Jews. The wedding took place in the Ohel David Synagogue in Pune, founded by the bride's grandfather. The couple's daughter. Hannah Gubbay, became a prominent artHenry Jones Thaddeus, Rachel Sassoon Beer, 1887Gifts presented to Queen Mary on her birthday by Philip Sassoon, 1934 and 1935 Lent by His Majesty King Charles III Scent bottle Lahore (now in Pakistan), late Mughal period, early nineteenth century Jade, gold, pearls, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeraldsMikhail Perkhin Russian, born in 1860, died in 1903 For the House of Carl Fabergé, founded in Saint Petersburg, 1872, closed in 1917John Singer Sargent American, born in 1856, died in 1925 Head of a Capri Girl 1878 Oil on canvas Inscribed "To Philip" Private collection, formerly in the Philip Sassoon Collection Philip Sassoon eschewed the avant-garde in favor of figurative artists. He owned an extensive collection of works by John Singer Sargent, including this captivating portrait of a girl from Capri, Italy. Other works by Sargent from Philip's collection are on view in the following galleries, including portraits of Philip himself and his mother, Aline, as well as two World War I paintings.Snuffbox presented to Queen Mary by Mozelle Sassoon, Christmas 1934. Paris, c. 1762–68. Sablé gold with pearls, opals, and enamel; ¼ × 2 ½ × 1 13/16 in. (3.1 × 6.2 × 4.5 cm). Lent by His Majesty King Charles III. Photo Credit: Royal Collection Trust/© His Majesty King Charles III 2023John Singer Sargent. Sybil, Countess of Rocksavage, 1922. Oil on canvas; 63 ½ × 35 5/8 in. (161.3 × 89.8 cm). Courtesy Houghton Hall Collection, used by permission. Image: Painters / Alamy Stock PhotoJohn Singer Sargent American, born in 1856, died in 1925 Sybil Sassoon 1912 Charcoal on paper Private collection Sybil Sassoon 1910 Charcoal on paper Private collection Sargent's first portraits ofFrom Opium to Torah: Explore the Complex History of the Sassoon Family at the Jewish MuseumFrom Opium to Torah: Explore the Complex History of the Sassoon Family at the Jewish MuseumFrom Opium to Torah: Explore the Complex History of the Sassoon Family at the Jewish MuseumStandard carried during pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet Ezekiel in Al-Kifl, Iraq, 1826-27, silver, 9-7/8 by 4½ by 3/4 inches. The Jewish Museum, New York. Purchase: Judaica Acquisition Fund, 2000. Formerly in the David Solomon Sassoon Collection.William Orpen Irish, born in 1878, died in 1931 Sybil Sassoon, Countess of Rocksavage 1913 Oil on canvas Private collectionJohn Singer Sargent American, born in 1856, died in 1925 Philip Sassoon 1912 Charcoal on paper Houghton Hall Collection, Norfolk, United KingdomFrom Opium to Torah: Explore the Complex History of the Sassoon Family at the Jewish MuseumCharles Sims British, born in 1873, died in 1928 The Ballroom at 25 Park Lane with Sybil Sassoon c. 1923 Tempera on boardSassoon Haggadah, c. 1320; The Sassoons: Passover Haggadah, 1868Sybil Sassoon, dressed in the latest 1920s fashion, is seated in the ballroom of her brother Philip's house in London. Unlike the two nearby paintings of the Park Lane drawing room, which depict its elegant furnishings, Sims evokes, in a rather abstract way, the work of the Catalan artist Josep Maria Sert, who painted shimmering blue and silver panels on the walls and ceiling.A miniature Quran, published in Glasgow, 1900, 2 × 1½ × ½ in. (s.1 3.8 × 1.3 cm), Norfolk, UK, Houghton Hall Collection. During World War I, Sybil Sassoon, Countess of Rocksavage, donated these miniature Qurans for distribution to Muslim soldiers fighting for the British.Philip de László Hungarian, born in 1869, died in 1937 Sir Philip Sassoon 1915 Oil on canvas Houghton Hall Collection, Norfolk, United Kingdom LEFT Glyn Warren Philpot British, born in 1884, died in 1937 Siegfried Sassoon 1917 Oil on canvas The Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum,Wrist rest Late Qing dynasty to early Republican period, late nineteenth or early twentieth century Figure of the Daoist immortal Li Tieguai China, Republican period, 1912-49 Bodhisattva Guanyin as the Sender of Sons China, late Ming dynasty, sixteenth or seventeenth century Ivory British Museum, London, Sir Victor Sassoon Chinese Ivories Trust The superb craftsmanshipFamille verte garniture, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 1662–1722
Miniature Mountain, China, late Qing dynasty, probably nineteenth centuryAfter Qian Xuan, Pear Blossoms, China, Yuan dynasty c. 1280John Singer Sargent American, born in 1856, died in 1925 ABOVE The Road 1918 Oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Hayden Collection-Charles Henry Hayden Fund BELOW American Troops Going Up the Line, 1918 Oil on canvas Houghton Hall Collection, Norfolk, United Kingdom, formerly in the Philip Sassoon Collection

 

The Sassoon Exhibition at the Jewish Museum is a must Joelle Magazine

If you are curious about the exciting annals of Israelite kins complicated in the narcotic businessdo not miss visiting the Sassoon exhibit at the Israelite Place for viewing artifacts. Taking us from the Sassoon family’s poverty to their rise to power and affluence, the exhibition traces the family’s ancestry. The exhibit highlights their extraordinary triumphs in the opium industry and their extensive influence on the global economy.

A lovely shade of crimson paints the first set of apartments as we pass through them. We discover the family’s rise to fame in the opium trade. This article discusses their purchases of real estate and maritime transportation in addition to their engagement with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

David Sasoon The Pioneer

According to the exhibition’s storyline, David Sassoon, the family patriarch, left Baghdad in 1830 due to the increasing persecution of the Jewish population. He leads his descendants from Iraq to India, China, and eventually Mumbai (formerly Bombay) over the course of several decades as they establish roots in England.

Expansion of the opium trade

He soon expanded into the opium trade. As the East India Company declined in the mid-19th century, private enterprises profited from this lucrative business. Through alliances and profits, he profited from British colonialism. In Shanghai, Hong Kong, and London, he dispatched his eight sons to oversee new branches. As a philanthropist, member of the British Parliament, and patron of the arts, Sassoon expanded the family’s opium trade into new markets.

Family Jewish

Family

Sir Albert Sassoon

On display are 120 works from private and public collections and a 19th-century opium pipe belonging to Sir Edward Sassoon. This pipe provides a tangible link to the family’s involvement in the opium trade. It serves as a reminder of the complicated history of this industry.

The exhibition also features several paintings by John Singer Sargent, a renowned artist who was a close friend of the Sassoon family. These paintings provide a glimpse into the family’s lavish lifestyle and their patronage of the arts.

Sir Edward Sassoon

With more than 120 works from private and public collections, a 19th-century opium pipe that belonged to Sir Edward Sassoon is also on display, providing a tangible link to the family’s involvement in the opium trade and serving as a reminder of the complicated history of this industry.

The exhibition also features several paintings by John Singer Sargent, a renowned artist who was a close friend of the Sassoon family. These paintings provide a glimpse into the family’s lavish lifestyle and their patronage of the arts.

Family Jewish Museum

Family at the Jewish

Exhibition That Sheds The Lights

A Jewish marriage contract from the 19th century is also on display at the exhibition, belonging to the Sassoon family and providing a fascinating insight into the family’s religious traditions and customs.

The exhibition also sheds light on the complex history of the opium trade and its impact on society, acknowledging the devastating effects of this trade on the Chinese people, leading to the Opium Wars between China and Britain in the mid-19th century. Despite these complexities, the exhibition celebrates the Sassoon family’s contributions to Jewish and global history.

The Jewish Marriage Contract

Marriage contract of Mozelle (Mazal Tov) Sassoon and Elias David Ezra Pune, India, 1870 Print and ink on parchment Benkarin Zucker Family Collection, In addition to the wealth of information about the Sassoon family’s history, the exhibition also features several important artifacts that provide a tangible link to their legacy. Here are five of the most significant artifacts on display:

Jewish Museum

Family at the Jewish Museum

The Torah of Sassoon

The Sassoon Torah is an exquisite Torah scroll with delicate handwriting and illuminations that the Sassoon family commissioned. The “Sassoon Torah” is the exhibition’s centerpiece and symbolizes the family’s steadfast commitment to their Jewish heritage.

The Family Sassoon

The exhibition includes a collection of rare family photographs that offer a glimpse into the private lives of the Sassoon family. Visitors can see images of the family’s homes, their travels, and their relationships, providing a unique perspective on this influential family.

In conclusion, the Sassoon Exhibition at the Jewish Museum is a rich and engaging experience that offers an interesting insight into the history of the Sassoon family and their impact on Jewish and global history. With its valuable information, interactive displays, and important artifacts, the Sassoon Exhibition is not to be missed.

Purchase your ticket here

Family at the Jewish Museum

Family at the Jewish Museum

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