INDISTINCTLY STRUCK WITH QUALITY MARK ON REVERSE, CENTRAL EUROPE, DATED IN HEBREW 1772

Details

AN IMPORTANT PEWTER SEDER PLATE
Indistinctly struck with quality mark on reverse, Central Europe, dated in Hebrew 1772
The shaped moulded raised double border finely engraved with the order of the Seder service, in typical square Ashkenazic Hebrew script, terminating with griffins flanking crowned shield, inscribed in Hebrew with the owner's initials A.Sh., topped by a bird, further decorated with crowns, shells and flowers, the interior depicting a Seder scene with two figures each raising a cup of wine in his right hand, sitting on benches one of them reclines to the left, centred by table inscribed in Hebrew with one of the opening sentences out of the Haggadah: "let all who are hungry come and eat", surmounted by two similar looking groups of three elaborate towers split by long flower in two handled vase, two doves above, titled in Hebrew with the closing sentence of the Haggadah: "next year in Jerusalem", signed with owner's inscription stating in Hebrew that this (Seder) schüssel belongs to Isaac the son of Eli(yahu) Segal, dated in Hebrew 1772, drilled for hanging
35cm. diam.

Special notice

Christie's charge a buyer's premium of 20.825% of the hammer price for lots with values up to NLG 200,000. If the hammer price exceeds the NLG 200,000 then the premium is calculated at 20.825% of the first NLG 200,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of NLG 200,000.

Lot Essay

The charming and imaginary view of Jerusalem, distinguished by the elaborate towers, is clearly modelled on central European city rather than a Mediterranean capital. Though depictions of Jerusalem appeared frequently, since the 16th century, on Jewish wedding contracts, textiles, manuscripts and printed books, its representation on such a pewter Seder plate is quite unique and clearly testifies that throughout the ages Jerusalem remains the primary Jewish sacred place and continued to be at the very core of the Jewish emotional and cultural heritage.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Towards the Eternal Centre. Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple. Exhibition Catalogue, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1996
See illustration

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