Updated 10 October 2024
18th/19th Century Silver Filigree Jewish Ritual Besamim Spice Towers.
About 20 examples and some rough notes (post in preparation).
The subject has been written about in some depth in -
Eine gute Woche! Judische Turme aus Schwabisch Gmund.
The Catalogue of the Museum in Prediger, Schwabisch Gmund exhibition. Pub. 2002.
There appears to be a need by some researchers and owners to ascribe these silver filigree objects (illustrated here) to Jewish silversmiths in Galicia, (South Eastern Poland and Western Ukraine), but based on comparisons with other objects, it is currently my opinion that they were all manufactured in Bavaria in particular in Schwabisch Gmund in the 18th and 19th Centuries - the use of enamel panels is particular to the objects from Schwabisch Gmund.
I will post further examples as I progress with this project.
This is not to say that Besamim Spice Towers, were not made by Jewish Craftsmen in Galicia and other Eastern European centres, but these would be without the specific type of filigree shown in this post.
None of these objects are marked with the makers name or place of origin.
These objects are very difficult to date I suspect that they are all early 18th / 19th Century.
I have been intentionally selective here and only include those towers that appear to have originated from Swabisch Gmund. The inclusion of enamel panels which were a specialiy of Schwabisch Gmund) on some of them leads me to believe that these objects were all manufactured in Bavaria.
More research is needed.
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No. 1. The Kestenbaum Silver Gilt and Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Besamim Tower - Silver Filigree and Silver Gilt Spice Tower
41.5 cms - no makers marks.
Kestenbaum and Company, New York Auction Sale.
Lot 5, 21 July 2020.
https://www.kestenbaum.net/auction/lot/Auction-90/090-006/
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No 2. The Kestenbaum Tower.
From the Collection of the Jewish Historical Society of England.
Lot 5 - 6 December 2012.
38.4 cms - No makers mark.
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3. 18th Century Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Christie's, London, Lot 219, 12 Nov. 2020.
The Christie's catalogue entry.
A GERMAN PARCEL GILT AND FILIGREE SILVER BESAMIM OR SPICE
TOWER.
UNMARKED, POSSIBLY NUREMBURG, 17TH CENTURY, WITH LATER
FRENCH GUARANTEE MARKS
On detachable circular foot and three section baluster stem,
the body formed from three hexagonal filigree tiers, with hexagonal filigree
spire, the spherical filigree finial with five scrolls below and surmounted by
a standing figure with a shield and a staff or spear, the foot applied with
silver-gilt scrolls and rosettes, the lower section of the body with
silver-gilt sleeve, with a hinged door, opening to reveal a spice compartment
with a drawer in its base, the drawer with ring handle, sliding cover and four
internal compartments, the sides on the lower hexagonal tier applied with
alternating silver-gilt eagles and rampant lions, the six upper angles each
applied with a silver-gilt standing male figure holding various attributes, the
middle and upper section of the body with arcade arched windows, with
silver-gilt panels, the interior of the upper section hung with a bell, marked
on disk under the foot, drawer base and finial with Paris guarantee mark of a
hare's head for small items used 1819-1838, the finial with additional French
provincial guarantee mark of a fasces for small items used 1809-1819
14 ½ in. (37.5 cm.) high.
This spice tower would have been used during the Havdalah
ceremony, which marks the end of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Havdalah,
which literally translated means separation, takes place after the sun has set
on the Saturday evening and when three stars have appeared in the night sky. It
symbolises the break between work and rest. During the ceremony blessings are
said over wine, a plaited candle is lit and the assembled company inhale the
scent of fragrant spices stored in a spice tower or bessamim. These rituals
symbolise the giving thanks to God for the gift of taste, sight and smell. A
late 16th century depiction of the Havdalah ceremony was published by the south
German born, Venice based printer, Simon Levi Ginzburg in his illustrated
Custumal or Minhagim-Book of 1593. The woodcut depicting the Havdalah ceremony
is illustrated on the verso of folio 3 and shows a father holding the wine cup
with a wine flagon on the floor behind him. He faces his two sons, one of whom
holds the candlestick and the other the spice tower.
The spices placed in the tower would have included cinnamon,
nutmeg and clove and would have been stored in the drawer fitted in the base of
the main section. These drawers were traditionally divided into four
compartments as found here and as shown by another German example, marked for
Nuremberg, illustrated in R. D. Barnett, Catalogue of The Jewish Museum,
London, 1974, no. 408, p. 77, pl. cxxvii. Another German example, in pewter,
dating from the late 17th or early 18th century is similarly illustrated in
Barnet, op. cit., no. 411, p. 78, pl. cxxiii.
The six figures on the angles of the spice compartment are
clad in long robes and wearing a beret or barrette and a ruff, the traditional
Jewish costume worn by the German Jews throughout the 17th century. The various
attributes relate to the ceremony of Havdalah. One figure holds a spice tower,
another a plaited candle. Others hold a wine cup, a prayer book and one plays a
pipe.
Other filigree spice towers also feature cast figures as
part of their ornament. A large spice tower, also unmarked but attributed to
Nuremburg, second half 17th century was sold Christie's, Amsterdam, 10 December
2001, lot 196. It had a more elaborate outline and more intricate filigree work
than the present example, however, the main tier of the tower is embellished
with cast silver-gilt figures, two being soldiers and four musicians. The
finial is surmounted by a trumpeter. The collection of the Jewish Museum,
Amsterdam, includes a related spice tower, but lacks a figure finial. A spice
tower from the Dr W. L. Hildburgh Bequest in the Victoria and Albert Museum is
also ornamented with cast silver-gilt figures, three identified as musicians,
three more with instruments or attributes lacking. Plainer examples are also
know, such as the late 17th century example in the collection of the Jewish
Museum, London, illustrated in R. Burman, J. Marin and L. Steadman ed.,
Treasures of Jewish Heritage, London, 2006, p. 38 (JM410).
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No 4. 18th/19th Century Silver Filigree Besamim Tower.
with Inset Enamel Panels typical of work from Schwabisch Gmund..
Height 32.5 cms.
The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv. Israel.
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No 5. Another South German Besamim Spice Tower.
No 5. Another Besamim Spice Tower.
Silver filigree
Height: 34.2 cm, Width: 6.2 cm
From the Gross Family Collection Tel Aviv, Israel.
Again they say that it was manufactured in Galicia but I believe Schwabisch Gmund.
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The representations follow the illustrations of the Icones Biblicae by the Swiss engraver Matthäus Merian (1593 - 1650), a Christian artist. They were published in Frankfurt am Main in 1625–1627 and were widely circulated.
The pictures show the following scenes: Eliezer at the well with Rebekah, Isaac blessing his son Jacob, Jacob's dream of the ladder to heaven, Jacob wrestles with the angel and receives the name Israel.
On the upper part: the outcast Hagar and her son
Ishmael in the desert, Moses before the burning bush, Samson carrying the gates
of Gaza, Samson and Delilah.
Image and adapted text from -
https://sammlung.juedischesmuseum.de/objekt/besamim-buchse-mit-bildern-aus-der-merian-bibel/
https://www.juedischesmuseum.de/sammlung/judaica/
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No 7. Silver Filigree Spice Tower, Wurzburg.
Besamim Tower,
18th Century Silver filigree,
Schwäbisch Gmünd,
Staatliches Museum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte Würzburg.
© Museum für Franken – Staatliches Museum
für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte Würzburg.
https://www.schwaebisch-gmuend.de/2021-lechaim.html
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No 8. 18th Century Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
29 cms.
The Israel Museum Jerusalem.
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No 9. The Hallwyll Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
No's 10 and 11, Two Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Towers at the V and A.
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Height 25 cms width 5.5 cms
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72160/spice-box-spice-box-unknown/
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No 11 Basemim Tower.
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Height 27.7cms.
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70642/spice-holder-unknown/
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No. 12. The Greenstein, New York Auctions, Silver Filigree Besamim Tower.
Although they suggest German 17th Century I would suggest later - probably 18th/ 19th Century.
Described as Gilician ? I believe South German, Bavarian, Schwabisch Gmund?
Height 31.5 cms.
Lot 145, Greenstiens. 14 November 2021.
Sold at Parke-Bernet, March 18, 1964, at Sotheby’s, New
York, June 1985, lot 286 at J.
Greenstein and Company, Inc., October 15, 2007, lot 58.
Formerly in the collection of Richard
Janger, Chicago, Illinois. 12.3” tall.
https://jgreenstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jgreenstein-auction-2021-11-15.pdf
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No's 13 and 14, Sotheby's Two Silver Filigree Besamim Towers.
18th/19th Century.
Height approx. 34 cms.
Sotheby's New York, 16 Jun 2022. Lot 56.
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No. 14. 18th/ 19th Century A silver filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Sold Sotheby's New York.
34.3 cms.
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No. 15. 18th/19th Century Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Photograph from Boston Museum of Fine Arts facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10156307110142321&set=a.157948467320
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No. 16. Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Schwabisch Gmund
in the Germanische Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg.
Height 44 cms.
https://objektkatalog.gnm.de/wisski/navigate/37576/view
There is an huge collection of silver filigree folk jewellery on this excellent website.
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No 17. Silver Filigree Besamim Spice Tower.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
Height 40 cms.
Jerusalem Museum.
https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/392436-0
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No 18. A Silver Filigree Besamim Tower from the German Lost Art Foundation.
Judaica Collection by Max Raphael Hahn (1880-1942).
see -
https://www.lostart.de/en/lost/object/spice-box-besamim-box/590306
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Photograph taken in 1888.
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Here is an example of a probably 18th Century Silver Filigree from Schwabisch Gmund,
With a typical enamel panel as used on the Besamim illustrated above.
No size given.
Image from -
https://www.schwaebisch-gmuend.de/Schausammlung.html
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These images posted 10 October 2024
No 18. Besamim Tower.
34 cms.
Lot 351. 24, February 2024, Lucas Aste, Milan Saleroom.
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