Yemini Silversmiths history 03

	Many of Bezalel's leading designers, such as Ze'ev Raban and Erich Goldberg, provided the Silver Department with many prototypes. Goldberg, together with his father, directed Bezalel's workshop in its early years. Extensive dismissals of workshop employees in the First World War era led to the emergence of independent groups of "Bezalelite" craftsmen. The "Keter" group, for example, was headed by Yehuda Shneior. They specialized in works of silver, gold, ivory, stone, mother-of-pearl and metal-hammering. A majority of this group's craftsmen were Yemenites, who persevered in the execution of "Bezalelite" designs. When Bezalel closed in 1929, the Yemenite craftsmen continued to occupy the deserted buildings, applying the Bezalel stamp to the metalwork that they produced in their now recognizable forms. Yehia Yemini, the most renowned of the craftsmen, continued his craft almost until his death. He created a large quantity and variety of characteristic Bezalelite products, with the authentic Yemenite flavor, a large majority of which were based upon detailed sketches he received personally from Ze'ev Raban in the 1940's. YEHIA YEMINI Born in 1897 into a family of San'a silversmiths, Yehia Yemini reached Jerusalem with his family at the young age of three. When Bezalel founded its Silver Department In 1908, Yemini became one of its employees, and helped other Yemenites to forge Bezalel's unique synthesis of East and West. After the dismissals of 1914, Yemini joined three groups of Jerusalem craftsmen who specialized in silver crafting in the manner of Bezalel: "Keter," "Kav Lavan," and "Sharar" (directed respectively by Shneior, Ossanovitch and Rabinovitz). Yemini was exceptionally talented and skilled in blending the traditions of Yemenite silver work with the design directions supplied by Ze'ev Raban. He established his workshop in the ground floor of his home in a Jerusalem neighborhood, known as Neveh Bezalel. To supplement his livelihood, he also worked as a torah scribe. In time, his craftsmanship gained prestige, both local and international. In 1931, he won a silver medal at the Paris world exhibition and in 1932, he won a gold medal at the Yarid Hamizrach exhibition in Tel Aviv. In 1937, he fashioned the Torah scroll cover and receptacle for the letter of goodwill, which were presented to King George VI on the occasion of his coronation. Yemini continued to actively work and produce Jewish ritual articles of filigree silver until the age of 85. He passed away in Jerusalem in 1983.
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Many of Bezalel's leading designers, such as Ze'ev Raban and Erich Goldberg, provided the Silver Department with many prototypes. Goldberg, together with his father, directed Bezalel's workshop in its early years. Extensive dismissals of workshop employees in the First World War era led to the emergence of independent groups of "Bezalelite" craftsmen. The "Keter" group, for example, was headed by Yehuda Shneior. They specialized in works of silver, gold, ivory, stone, mother-of-pearl and metal-hammering. A majority of this group's craftsmen were Yemenites, who persevered in the execution of "Bezalelite" designs. When Bezalel closed in 1929, the Yemenite craftsmen continued to occupy the deserted buildings, applying the Bezalel stamp to the metalwork that they produced in their now recognizable forms. Yehia Yemini, the most renowned of the craftsmen, continued his craft almost until his death. He created a large quantity and variety of characteristic Bezalelite products, with the authentic Yemenite flavor, a large majority of which were based upon detailed sketches he received personally from Ze'ev Raban in the 1940's.

YEHIA YEMINI Born in 1897 into a family of San'a silversmiths, Yehia Yemini reached Jerusalem with his family at the young age of three. When Bezalel founded its Silver Department In 1908, Yemini became one of its employees, and helped other Yemenites to forge Bezalel's unique synthesis of East and West. After the dismissals of 1914, Yemini joined three groups of Jerusalem craftsmen who specialized in silver crafting in the manner of Bezalel: "Keter," "Kav Lavan," and "Sharar" (directed respectively by Shneior, Ossanovitch and Rabinovitz). Yemini was exceptionally talented and skilled in blending the traditions of Yemenite silver work with the design directions supplied by Ze'ev Raban. He established his workshop in the ground floor of his home in a Jerusalem neighborhood, known as Neveh Bezalel. To supplement his livelihood, he also worked as a torah scribe. In time, his craftsmanship gained prestige, both local and international. In 1931, he won a silver medal at the Paris world exhibition and in 1932, he won a gold medal at the Yarid Hamizrach exhibition in Tel Aviv. In 1937, he fashioned the Torah scroll cover and receptacle for the letter of goodwill, which were presented to King George VI on the occasion of his coronation. Yemini continued to actively work and produce Jewish ritual articles of filigree silver until the age of 85. He passed away in Jerusalem in 1983.