One of the most interesting Hanukkah lamps in our collection is this Menorah with a pocket watch in its middle. Above the watch is the double headed eagle - the symbol of the Hapsburg empire. Another such eagle is placed on the top of the menorah. The use of local royal symbols by Jews - in this case Austria - was their way of showing their loyalty to their country and its rulers. 

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The pocket watch is also flunked by two rampant lions which usually decorate Torah arcs and symbolize the duality in the Jews' identity - the Jewish one and the Civil one. The architectural elements - pillars, arches - and the two lampposts and roses that decorate the background are reminiscent  of the elegant city squares of Europe. They too, emphasize the influence of the local culture over the Jewish community.