Yosef Zvi Geiger – Papercut for the Shavu'ot Holiday – "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys" – Safed, 1908

Yosef Zvi Geiger – Papercut for the Shavu'ot Holiday – "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys" – Safed, 1908

"Shavu'osel"/"roizaleh", hand-painted papercut depicting flowers and birds, for the holiday of Shavu'ot, created by Yosef Zvi Geiger (1870-1944). [Safed], 1908.
At the center of the papercut are two large roses, encircled by smaller flowers, leaves, and birds. In their beaks, two of the birds carry notes that, when combined, bear the phrase "For this Shavu'ot holiday." Toward the bottom, in the middle, is a strip inscribed (in Hebrew) with the Biblical verse "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys" (Song of Songs 2:1). The papercut is dated (in Hebrew) on verso: "Made in Year Tarsa-het" (Hebrew year 5668 = 1908).
Yosef Zvi Geiger was renowned in his hometown of Safed as a multi-talented scribe and painter. Among his extant works are splendid "Mizrah" and "Shiviti" plaques, calligraphic and illustrated title pages for "donors books", certificates for donors and greeting letters, and papercuts in the Eastern European style, including special papercuts for the Shavu'ot holiday and papercut sukkah decorations.
24X23 cm. Good condition. Tears. Minor blemishes, stains, and creases. Suspension holes. Repairs with acidic adhesive tape.

Yosef Zvi Geiger (1870-1944), native of Safed. One of the most prominent public figures in Safed. He served as general secretary of Safed's "Kolel" institutions, and his home was a regular meeting place for the "gaba'im" (managers) of the various local Kolelim and congregations. The Yishuv's foremost newspapers – including Havatzelet, HaLevanon,   and HaZefirah – regularly published his articles. He also served as a scribe for the Kolelim, and assisted illiterate members of the community by writing letters on their behalf. Geiger was renowned in Safed for being both a gifted scribe and talented painter, entrusted with producing beautifully scripted documents. Among his extant works are splendid "Mizrah" and "Shiviti" plaques, calligraphic and illustrated title pages for "donors books", certificates for donors and greeting letters, and papercuts in the Eastern European style. His contemporaries recall the beautiful "ketubahs" (marriage documents) he produced for the city's couples, decorated with gilt lettering and floral and vegetal designs; and the artworks he created to adorn the walls of the local synagogues, including gilt-lettered plaques. Among his many special talents was his ability to inscribe micrographic texts onto grains of wheat; he could fit several verses from the Bible onto a single grain. In the (Hebrew) book of memoirs by Yosef Zvi's grandson, Benjamin Geiger, entitled "One of the Elders of Safed, " Benjamin writes that his grandfather also specialized in engraving in stone (and inscribed several headstones in Safed). Benjamin also relates that Yosef Zvi was a lover and champion of the Hebrew language, and in his efforts to promote the language he would put up signs with words in Hebrew on the walls of study rooms and yeshivas throughout the town, so that children would get to know these words. He personally taught the language to his children and grandchildren, ensuring they would become entirely fluent.