Img. ID: 46924
The plate is round with a rased rim. In its center it is inscribed with the order of the Seder. The words are arranged in six lines with the first word comprising the top line and the last word comprising the bottom line. The inscription is in square filled letters:
קדש ##ורחץ כרפס יחץ מגיד##רחצה מוציא מצה## מרור כורך שלחן-עורך##צפון ברך הלל##נרצה,
"Kadesh, U'Rehaz, Karpas, Yahaz, Magid, Rahazah, Mozi, Mazah, Maror, Korekh, Shulhan-Orekh, Zafun, Barekh, Halel, Nirzah"
The word 'Kadesh' at the center of the top line is encircled by a garland with a pair of ribbons on each side. The word 'Nirzah' at the center of the bottom line is surrounded by an oval dotted frame. The rim of the plate bears an oval medallion at the and bottom and two round medallions on each side. Each medallion bears a different scene. The medallion at the top bears a scene of the Israelites leaving Egypt (13760) and the medallion on bottom bears a scene of the five rabbis from Benei Berak (13679). The medallions on the right bear the figures of King Solomon and King David and the medallions on the left bear the figures of Moses and Aaron (13763). A recurring pattern of roses and leaves decorates the rim between the medallions.
Structure: hammered
Decoration: repousse, punched, engraved
Inscription: engraved
hallmarks that indicate Moscow in the 19th century. Cf. Tardy, p. 532-533.
2. The hallmark includes in its center a rectangle divided into nine squares. The rectangle is surmounted by the cipher 13 and is surrounded by the date 1(8?)1(?). It is framed by a rectangle surmounted by an arch. The hallmark is unidentified but it is similar in type to Austro-Hungarian hallmarks. In these hallmarks, the cipher 13 indicates quality and the ciphers around the central motif refer to the date. Cf. Tardy. p. 328.
3. The hallmark includes the initials: F A A, combined together within a frame in a shape of a shield. It is unidentified but probably refers to the artist.
The hallmarks present several problems:
1. They are similar to popular hallmarks but are not given to an exact identification when compared
with hallmarks in the bibliography.
2. Each hallmark represents a different authority, one is Russian and the other is Austro-Hungarian, something that is rarely found together.
3. There is no correlation between the earliest date that the hallmarks indicate (if they are authentic) and the style of the decoration of the plate which is typical of the beginning of the 20th century.