Passover towel c. 19th century

pigment, textile

natural stone pattern

wood texture

naturalistic pattern

pigment

wave pattern

textile

wood background

pattern background

organic pattern

france

wooden texture

golden font

layered pattern

This anonymous 19th-century "Passover Towel" is an example of traditional Jewish folk art. The textile features embroidered Hebrew text along with floral motifs and a central depiction of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The text, which includes blessings for the Passover Seder, is framed by representations of the Ten Plagues, a key element in the Passover story. This piece, now in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to the artistic expressions of Jewish communities throughout history.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

This cushion cover and towel set would have been used in an elite Jewish home in the Alsace region of eastern France to celebrate the Passover Seder. During the meal, it is customary for important individuals to eat reclining in imitation of sumptuous Roman feasts when elites ate reclining on sofas. This gesture issues a reminder of the time in Jewish history when they were liberated from their enslavement in Egypt, and is meant to inspire feelings of gratitude for the fruits of freedom. This cushion cover would have contained a large cushion that was placed on the chair back of the male head of household. The decorative towel would have been used to cover utilitarian towels used during the Seder hand-washing ceremonies.