Featured Torah Pointer Technique and marks

Is the handle really metal? To my eye, it appears to be wood.

Debora

 

The floral designs around the base of the handle reminds me of floral symbols on Jewish houses in Essaouira, Morocco. I read somewhere that every denomination had its own symbols, often floral. The number of petals indicated the denomination. Synagogues had stars, but houses had flowers.
I can't find where I read it, and don't remember the number of petals for Jewish houses. But that could be something to look into.

 

Which would make sense with a Viennese mark . The Ottoman Empire and Austria traded back and forth right up to WWI. I was thinking India on the handle design too. BTW - is that wood or horn? It looks like horn from here.

 

So many smart people here !!!!!!!

The inlay is superb..

 

This Yad bears full Austrian marks and no Ottoman marks, so it was made in Austria.

 

The handle design however is absolutely not Austrian in origin.

 

Good thinking on the horn. I have to look closely again.

 

Can you post a photo of the end (cross section) of the handle?

 

There. I think a part is missing as the ugly finish is unlikely. Plus a close up of the handle - I initially thought it was metal (cold and somewhat hollow ring) but horn is perhaps a better option.

 

I''m now seeing a hard wood of some sort........

 

I see wood too.

The Yad probably had a silver knob or finial. It has age, and things are lost over time.
We don't know what the original looked like, but you could ask a silversmith to fit it with a flat silver disc as a provisional cosmetic repair.