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century German cups are quite rare
and usually sell with a starting price in
the $10,000 range. The festival cups
command more. The larger the cup,
the higher its value at auction (from
$6,000 to over $30,000 for the larger
6" size). Makers such as Mittnacht
and Ehe ruled the cup-manufacturing
business in German towns such as
Nuremberg and Augsburg. As they are
rare and attractive, they usually retain
and increase in value over the years.
Ukrainian and Polish Judaic
objects are made of very low-grade
quality. The Jewish population had
been very poor, and the price of good
silver was prohibitive. Most items are Large silver container. Dutch, 19th century,
marked with a 12 hallmark. This in the shape of a house on a base.
represents 12 of a possible 16 loth Retractable roof allows the insertion of spices.
(percentage), or about 75% silver, the
rest being alloys such as copper, nickel, ebbs away on Saturday shortly after sun- Silver spice tower.
and other less expensive available down, Jews perform the Havdalah ceremony Poland, 19th century.
metals. Often, objects were made of that entails a blessing over wine and fire as
Silver Kiddush cup. even lower grades of silver and are well as spices. Jewish law does not mandate a certain type of container for
Germany, c. 1900.
unmarked. In addition, you will find these spices, so artistic creativity throughout the ages has run rampant.
that these cups are often somewhat smaller than the cups that come from Early German spice towers from the 18th and 19th centuries are
Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, and other European usually in the shape of a tower, modeled after a building standing in the
countries. This may be indicative of not only an effort to conserve silver town of its creation. The typical tower has a round base with a rectangular
but also of an effort to conserve wine, using the minimal amount allowed or square body, carved out with windows or engraved with brick-like
by Jewish law to sanctify the Sabbath through Kiddush. Wealthy designs. They have doors that open that allow for the insertion of sides
individuals, prominent members of the community, and rabbis with and are topped by cone-shaped upper portions and topped by a flag.
large courts often had larger, more beautifully designed cups Sometimes, they have four or more bells hanging.
commissioned for them, knowing full well that they could easily afford One will also find mid-19th spice boxes in the shape of small
to fill these heftier cups. locomotives, small fish with scales and removable heads, houses, and so
Often, when the rabbinical leader of a community (The Rebbe) on. One of the decorations of early German and Polish spice boxes that
would have a favorite follower or student, he would give him some of his send prices through the roof at
silver coins or eating utensils. The recipient would take these coins or auction is human figural orna-
utensils to a silversmith to make them into a cup or if he was given a ments. When there are human
significant gift, a menorah. More often than not, the coins were scarce so figures added to the balcony or
the cups made were small. These “Shmirah” cups were held in great periphery of a spice box, values
esteem since their silver content had been previously owned by a increase tenfold. A filigree spice
Tzaddik, a holy person. An added holiness would, therefore, be bestowed container made in Lemberg in
upon the user during the recitation of the Kiddush on the Sabbath. 1717 fetched $337,000 at
Kiddush cups of Eastern Europe have a very auction as it had eight gilded
distinct style. According to the custom of the human figures all around it.
times, engravings of mythological creatures, Without these figures, the value
lions of every style and position, birds, unicorns, is in the $35,000 range. We
and signs of the zodiac might decorate the standard bought it to display at our
Kiddush cup. If one would look at a tombstone from gallery. Our feeling at the time
Ukraine or Poland, these same overall designs would Silver spice container in the shape was that it was undersold and the true
be found. of a locomotive. Poland, c. 1860. value is in the $550,000 range.
The value of a cup is generally based on age, decoration,
and a Hebrew inscription. The older, more heavily Chanukah Lamps and Menorahs
decorated, and inscribed cups are of greater value. A Chanukah lamps and menorahs touch the heart, and as such are
simple 19th-century silver cup from Poland without a another popular category of the Judaica market. While only a minor
Hebrew inscription would be valued at about $300. holiday in Europe, Chanukah became a larger holiday with Jews in
Once it is inscribed with a blessing, a previous America. The holiday of Chanukah celebrates the 2200-year-
owner’s name, or another epithet, the price quickly old victory of the Maccabees over the occupying Greek
increases to $2,000-$10,000. That’s why an expert Assyrians that led to the rededication of the Temple. Jews
is needed to make sure the inscription is real. I Silver spice container in memorialize the miracle of only one day’s worth of oil burning
examine each cup with a magnifying glass to see the shape of an ostrich. in the Temple’s menorah for eight days by lighting a Chanukah
how the valley of the engraving has oxidized over Dutch, 19th century. lamp, or menorah for eight nights. Although Jewish law mandates
time, as well as to make sure that the Hebrew that the menorah has eight even lights, the rest of the design of the lamp
style of writing is appropriate to the time and place. It would is up to the artisan.
be a “no-brainer” to discern that a Ukrainian cup with a Since the majority of European Jews were very poor not everyone
Germanic style of Hebrew engraving is a fake. owned their own menorah. When they did, it was usually made of brass
Chassidic or pewter, which is a less expensive metal than silver. Silver lamps are
silver spice
Spice Boxes container. often very ornately decorated with animals, organic designs, and
Spice boxes, known in Hebrew as besamim Probably Galician, sometimes figures such as ancient Maccabees. Like any other form of
boxes, are probably the second most popular early 20th century. Judaica, the older, larger, and more ornate examples fetch bigger numbers
Judaica objects to collect. As the Sabbath Made of woven silver. at auction.

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