Frieze from a colonnade of the Hauptsynagoge of Mainz destroyed in Kristallnacht

Identifier
irn12697
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1998.144.1
Dates
1 Jan 1912 - 31 Dec 1938, 1 Jan 1912 - 31 Dec 1912, 1 Jan 1988 - 31 Dec 1988
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Web Source

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn12697

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 32.250 inches (81.915 cm) | Width: 33.750 inches (85.725 cm) | Depth: 11.750 inches (29.845 cm)

Archival History

The frieze was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1998 by the City of Mainz, Germany.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Stadt Mainz

Scope and Content

Cast concrete ornamental section of the frieze from the portico colonnade of the 1912 Hauptsynagoge [Main Synagogue] of Mainz, Germany. The synagogue was desecrated and burned during the Kristallnacht pogrom on November 9-10, 1938. The remains of the synagogue were demolished with explosives a few days later. A customs office was built on the site. In 1988, during renovation of the government building, remnants of the synagogue portico were discovered.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Gray, roughly textured, cast concrete square form with rounded front top edges. The front has a thrice-repeated relief design of a shaft rising vertically from scalloped ground, set within a curved arch. At the top of each shaft is a circular shape, with a six-pointed star in the middle; the overall design resembles a tree. The right shaft is damaged and the right star is almost obliterated. The arched borders of the 3 reliefs connect to a pedestal-like design of 3 horizontal lines at the base. The surface of the stone above the reliefs and over the curved top has a vertically fluted design. The upper right corner is broken.

Subjects

  • Jews--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)--History.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
  • Kristallnacht, 1938--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
  • Synagogues--Destruction and pillage--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
  • Synagogue architecture--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)

Genre

  • Architectural Elements
  • Object
This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.