I have noticed that older tefillin — those manufactured a while ago — are typically shiny, whereas newer ones are typically matte. Is there any reason for this?
asked Feb 17, 2014 at 16:14
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This isn't just about peshutim, which are still shiny, but dakkot and gassot as well.– Noach MiFrankfurtFeb 17, 2014 at 16:14
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I think it has to do with wider availability of paints of different shinyness (?).– Double AA ♦Feb 17, 2014 at 17:59
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1A friend who is a S.T.A.M-appoved sofer told me the requirement is only that they be black. Shiny or not is up to the buyer.– Bruce JamesFeb 18, 2014 at 2:19
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1 Answer
There is no halachic or customary reason for the change in paint styles. The following does not entirely answer your question but is relevant:
It used to be common for cheaper peshutim to be painted with a very stiff black putty (tiach in rabbinic Hebrew). Depending on a couple halachic factors, this is either kosher or not on a case by case basis but that is what was used and that putty happens to be very shiny. Gassos are made with many hiddurim that were much harder to incorporate with older technology and are painted with a thinner putty that doesn't do anything structural at all.
I don't know if this was done intentionally or not, but a matte finish is a fairly reliable indicator that the sofer does not have to check for tiach.