Obj. ID: 39168
Sacred and Ritual Objects Besomim, Brno (Brünn), circa 1880
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
In Jewish tradition the end of the Sabbath and other Jewish Holidays is marked by the ceremony of Havdalah (Separation) that differentiates between the Holy nature of the holdiay and the profane nature of the following day. This ritual is accomplished by lighting a special candle with several wicks, drinking wine from a cup and the inhalation of the sweet smell of spices. In the Ashkenazi world these spices were usually held in a container which was often shaped in varying forms.
During the last half of the 19th century in Europe, there was a craze for miniatures. As a part of this fashion there were many miniature objects made in silver. As the locomotive became more a part of the local landscape, they, too, were copied in silver. Some of those miniatures were used as spice containers for the Havdalah service. This container was made by "EE", whose full name is Emanuel Eisler, of Brno, who made many spice towers. There are probably more filigree spice towers existing from his hand than from any other silversmith. In the gross family collection there is such a spice tower, unusually large, 015.001.017.