header

Kiddush Cup

Kiddush Cup

This small silver kiddush cup (15 centimetres) is from the Bazalel school of art in Israel. The base is cone shaped and bordered at the bottom by many tiny spheres. The top two thirds of the base and the first quarter of the stem are highly decorated. Intricate raised designs, done in silver, cover the smooth surface of the cup, with tiny sphere decorating at certain points. The stem is narrow and its middle half is plain, smooth silver. On its top quarter the detailed design resumes and continues onto a small portion of the basin of the cup. The basin is almost as wide as the base. The decorations on it are carved into the silver rather then imposed on it. Images of grape vines are apparent around the basin, several Hebrew words are also written on the basin. While most are unreadable, two words (Israel and Jerusalem) are clearly shown.

The images of the grape vines relate to wine, the content of Kiddush cups. Wine during Kiddush ceremonies is supposed to be a reminder of both the miracles of Creation and the deliverance from Egypt. Grape vines are also a symbol of the land of Israel.

Kiddush Cup Kiddush Cup
Go to Description 2Go to Description 3

Back to TreasuresGlossary Jewish HolidaysLife Cycle Home Page