Candlesticks in Piotrkow Trybunalski

I first visited Piotrkow Trybunalski, near Lodz, in 1990 or 1991 and I was struck by the vivid carving on the older tombstones. It was the first Jewish cemetery where I took notice of carvings of the double-headed eagle — a symbolic of the ruling authorities?

I revisited the cemetery in June 2010 and this time concentrated on the many beautiful and fanciful carvings on the tombstones of women: candlesticks, but also griffins, birds, flowers, and many other designs.

All pictures (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber.