GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS: The earliest descriptions of
productions of the goldsmith's art refer to the work of Jewish
goldsmiths. The Bible, which contains these descriptions, gives
also the names of the workers—Bezaleel b. Uri and Aholiab b.
Ahisamach (Ex. xxxi., xxxvi.). Important as were their
achievements, the Jewish goldsmith's art did not reach its
height until the time of King Solomon. Although he used foreign
skill to a certain extent in the making of the utensils for his
house and for the Temple, yet Hiram, the overseer of the whole
work, was of Jewish extraction, at least on his mother's side.
Even after the downfall of the Jewish state Jewish goldsmiths
were heard of everywhere. Thus the Talmud relates that the
synagogue of Alexandria had a section reserved for gold-and
silversmiths, just as for the other trades. It is also related
of the Jewish tribe Ḳainuḳa' in northern Arabia in the sixth
century, that it engaged in the goldsmith's trade and in money-
changing (Grätz, "Geschichte," v. 84). In