Spice container c. 19th century

This Spice Container was likely made in 19th century Eastern Europe from silver. Its delicate filigree work mimics the architecture of cathedrals. Spice containers such as this one have a prominent place in the rituals of Judaism, marking the end of the Sabbath each Saturday night. As the Sabbath ends, the aroma of spices is meant to revive the departing spirit. The ritual marks a symbolic transition between the holy day and the start of the work week. The architectural form reminds the user of Jerusalem, lost to the diaspora, and the container can therefore be seen as an expression of cultural and religious identity. We might consider this artwork as an emblem of the way minority religions were expressed in Europe at a time when their practitioners did not always have full access to the public sphere. Social historians might use archives, census data, oral histories, and community records to understand better the world of its makers.