Help w/Signature on Small (6") Gold & Silver(?) Statue of Rabbi Preaching

I found this at a thrift store today; the gold beard + a rabbi preaching/dancing a sermon like a evangelical preacher (look at statue - rabbi has 1 foot in the air like he's dancing as he's reading/preaching from the torah!) caught me eye!
I looked it over and could see a signature with (I think) a 1998 date, but I can't make it out - does anyone recognize the signature or the type of statue?
The fabbi has a gold hat, gold beard, gold shoes and is reading from a gold torah - is it made of real gold & silver?!
Thanks for any help, it is appreciated!

 

Do you think it might say Yaacov Heller 1993?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/yaacov-heller-sterling-silver-925-1819180424

 

That's what it looks like to me too.

 

It's got the look but doesn't show a signature (I wouldn't be surprised if that it say it slowly; you are a walking google search engine!!)

 

sheesh - that's the signature in plaque - I'll try to get better look at mine - thanks again say it slowly; your the best!

 

It certainly looks like his work which imho is very schmaltzy Judaica which, while popular in the 60's and 70's, has very little appeal to the younger generation. A quick search of completed listings on Liveauctioneers shows that they do not perform very well on the resale market.

 

Some of those pieces have some real metal content. They're generally resin with a thin metal coating. They'll often be hallmarked, but it's deceptive.

 

It looks rather poorly cast or fabricated.

 

That it turned up in a thrift shop speaks to this issue.

 

I have a Bar Mitzvah one sitting here, emphasis on sitting.

 

Maybe, but I've found some expensive pieces at this store

 

Posted it on eBay last night with title 'Yaacov Heller statue of Rabbi teaching the Torah like a Pentecostal preacher!' - and accepted $75 for it late this morning!
Thanks again say_it_slowly !

 

Wonderful, congratulations!
And happy birthday, make it a beautiful day for the two of you.

 

We see lots of once expensive furniture that no one wants anymore. I was responding to this observation:

while popular in the 60's and 70's, has very little appeal to the younger generation

Glad it sold quickly & a good profit.

 

That is the mot juste.

 

Thanks all - and at 60 today (my head keeps saying we're still in 20s!), I am officially an antique!

 

Nah, Journey - just "vintage"! (Happy Birthday!)

 

lol

 

Happy birthday, @journeymagazine -- it's a day later, and I still hope it was a good one. Or maybe the sale of Yaacov's sculpture made it a good one!