Obj. ID: 37536  Spice container, Germany, 1827

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 holiday 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.

In Germany, such boxes, with divided compartments inside, were a secular item, containing spices to give a nice smell at home. The type was often used as well as spice containers for the Havdalah ceremony. Although sometimes made of silver, most of the time they were crafted from pewter. This pewter example, which has a date inscribed on it, is further engraved with scrolling decoration and an inscription carrying Hebrew abbreviations for the last words of the blessing over the spices during the Havdalah prayers.

Inscription: B(orei). M(inei). B(esomim).