Judaicapedia

Being that the Torah is so important and so holy, it is often decorated with external decorations when not in use. These include a velvet type “robe” meant to protect the parchment, a silver breastplate called a “Hoshen” that resembles the breastplate worn by the Kohen Gadol (the High Priest) during the time of the Temples, and Rimonim, crowns placed on the top of the rollers. This is done not as a way to worship the Torah but rather, to exemplify the holiness of it and make it incredibly special.