{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O70642"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70642/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF5386/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF5386/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF5386","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW8346","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O70642/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O70642","accessionNumber":"M.434-1956","objectType":"Spice holder","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This spice container was used in Jewish worship, during the Havdalah ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. The spices are blessed and the box is passed around for all to smell. After the ceremony, the new week starts.","physicalDescription":"A silver filigree spice box with a moulded stem widening to a small five sided knop and standing upon an hexagonal base mounted upon five (originally six) cast ball  and claw feet. The container is in the form of a three tiered tower with a railed parapet around the bottom. The middle and top tiers of the tower represent the belfry and lantern respectively, and the whole is surmounted by an onion dome and a flagpole flying a small silver 'burgee' emblazoned with an engraved scorpian motif on both sides. At two opposite corners  of the lowest tier are small flags , without engraving, mounted on two small silver-filigree balls. On one face of this tier is the small hinged door through which spice was introduced. In the belfry tier immediately above hangs a small gilt belt. Mounted on the angles of the paraphet are six cast gilt figures, three of them playing pipes (or shofarot?) and the other three clad in long robes, buttoned up the front, and wearing circular hats (probably emulating Jewish costume of the day). Each figure appears to have had a pendant, possibly a bell, hanging from the crook of the left arm but all are now missing.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver filigree","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Judaism","id":"THES48929"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006BF5386","2018KW8346"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA8A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Spice box","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Probabaly Lvov"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 17th century to early 18th century","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1750-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"27.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"ex-Hildburgh loan 4482","historicalContext":"Jewish Worship\r\nJudaism is the oldest religion in the world to worship the one God.World Jewry has three main groups: Sephardic, Askenazic and Mizrahi (the Jews who never left the Middle East). All are bound together by a common history and their adherence to the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and the Talmud (a compendium of rabbinic law and lore).\r\n\r\nJewish religious traditions and rituals centre on the home, the community and the synagogue. Central to Judaism is the observance of the Sabbath. This is a holy day, set apart from the rest of the working week. It begins one hour before sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday evening when three stars can be seen in the night sky. \r\n\r\nThe Jewish year revolves around a number of festivals, such as Passover. These originated in ancient times and embody multiple layers of meaning, from agricultural festivals to historical events.","briefDescription":"Spice holder","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Keen, Michael. <font -u>Jewish Ritual Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</font> HMSO, 1991. 72., ill. ISBN 0112904491"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Spice Container\r\n\r\nThis spice container was used in Jewish worship, during the Havdalah ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. The spices are blessed and the box is passed around for all to smell. After the ceremony, the new week starts.\r\n\r\nThere are different interpretations of the meaning of the spices. They may symbolise the fragrance of the Sabbath, which is left behind when the Sabbath ends. \r\n\r\n \r\nCentral Europe, 1675-1725\r\nSilver, copper gilt and gilt bronze\r\nMuseum no. M.434-1956","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}}],"partNumbers":["M.434-1956"],"accessionNumberNum":"434","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1956,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2016JJ7094","2016JJ7095","2018KX3197"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-22","availableToBook":false}}