This spice container was used in Jewish worship, during the Havdalah ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. The spices are blessed and the box is passed around for all to smell. After the ceremony, the new week starts.
With this box the pyramid-shaped cover comes off and the spices are put inside.
Physical description
Italian, mid 17th century. Silver spice box consisting of a square container cast and pierced with scrolling foliage and putti; at each corner is an applied figure of a dove. The cover is of elongated pyramidal shape, cast and pierced with strapwork foliage and surmounted by a cast urn of flowers and a dove.
Place of Origin
Italy (made)
Date
17th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Silver
Marks and inscriptions
unmarked
Dimensions
Height: 11.5 cm container and stem, Width: 5 cm container and stem, Height: 14 cm cover, Width: 2.5 cm cover
Object history note
Acquired by Dr Hildburgh
Historical context note
Jewish Worship
Judaism is the oldest religion in the world to worship the one God.World Jewry has three main groups: Sephardic, Askenazic and Mizrahi (the Jews who never left the Middle East). All are bound together by a common history and their adherence to the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and the Talmud (a compendium of rabbinic law and lore).
Jewish religious traditions and rituals centre on the home, the community and the synagogue. Central to Judaism is the observance of the Sabbath. This is a holy day, set apart from the rest of the working week. It begins one hour before sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday evening when three stars can be seen in the night sky.
The Jewish year revolves around a number of festivals, such as Passover. These originated in ancient times and embody multiple layers of meaning, from agricultural festivals to historical events.
Descriptive line
Spice box
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Keen, Michael. Jewish Ritual Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1991. 69 p., ill. ISBN 0112904491.
Exhibition History
Jewish Worship (Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum 22/11/2005-22/11/2005)
Exhibited Bethnal Green Museum May-July 1987
Labels and date
Spice Container
This spice container was used in Jewish worship, during the Havdalah ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. The spices are blessed and the box is passed around for all to smell. After the ceremony, the new week starts.
There are different interpretations of the meaning of the spices. They may symbolise the fragrance of the Sabbath, which is left behind when the Sabbath ends.
With this box the pyramid-shaped cover comes off and the spices are put inside.
Italy, 1640-80
Silver
Museum no. M.427-1956 [22/11/2005]
Materials
Silver
Subjects depicted
Dove
Categories
Metalwork; Religion; Judaism
Collection code
MET
