IMPORTANT PAIR of SILVER "SHMIRAH" CUPS POLAND 1850 Have your ever seen pair of shmirah cups for sale? Start Price USD 15,000.00 Current Price USD 15,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, November 20, 2008 End Time Monday, December 08, 2008 Location White Plains, New York See more about 'IMPORTANT PAIR of SILVER "SHMIRAH" CUPS POLAND 1850' Description EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PAIR OF SILVER KIDDUSH "SMIRAH"CUPS.POLAND, CIRCA 1850. DECORATED WITH ENGRAVINGS OF FLORAL MOTIFS,FLOWERPOT,ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS AND HEBREW LETTERS IN CARTOUCHE HELD BY THE LION IN ITS PAWS:NUN MEM HEY for NAASA ME-SHEKEL HA-KODESH (MADE FROM HOLY SILVER).UNMARKED.SIZE:2.1/2" or 6.5cm. and 1.7/8"or 4.9cm.TALL, 64 and 36 grams.VERY GOOD CONDITIONS, FREE OF DAMAGES OR RESTORATIOINS. ***************************************************************************************************************************** Provenance: ALMOST IDENTICAL CUP IN THE JUDAICA COLLECTION OF NATIONAL MUSEUM IN WARSAW,PLEASE SEE ILLUSTRATION BELOW FROM THE JUDAICA CATALOGUE OF THIS MUSEUM BY EWA MARTUNA,WARSAW 1993,PLATE 137,PAGE 170. ****************************************************************************************************************************** SIMILAR TYPE OF LION AND HEBREW INSCRIPTION "MADE FROM HOLY SILVER",PLEASE SEE THE ILLUSTRATIONS BELOW FROM "A LOST ART"HANDMADE SILVER KIDDUSH CUPS OF EASTERN EUROPE BY J.GREENSTEIN ,2005,NEW YORK. ****************************************************************************************************************************** THE POLISH SILVER "SMIRAH" KIDDUSH CUP (ONE CUP NOT A PAIR) SOLD NOVEMBER 10,2008,NEW YORK, JUDAICA AUCTION,BY J.GREENSTEIN LOT # 72 FOR $8500 WITHOUT BUYER PREMIUM. ****************************************************************************************************************************** RARE EXAMPLE OF JEWISH-POLISH FOLK ART ****************************************************************************************************************************** From the vebsite of The Center of Jewish Art - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Custom: The courtof the Zaddik (the Hasidic leader) was financially maintained by money contributed by his Hasidim (the followers of a specific sect). The taxes, known as ma'amad (stand), were usually collected twice a year by a special collector appointed to the post for life. He traveled around the cities and small towns with a list of names, which was updated consecutively. The list served two purposes: first to track the amount of money collected in a certain place and time, while the second ensured that the Zaddik would bless the Hasid and his family. In some courts, after the blessing, the Zaddik also offered a blessed coin, which was given as a reward to a particular Hasid or congregation at the next visit of the collector. The coin was sold in an auction, and the money was contributed for a special celebration conducted on the festive collection day that was considered a holiday. The blessed coin was regarded as a charm (shmirah). Thus, sometimes, when a large number of coins were collected, it was customary to melt them down and commission a ritual object for communal or private use. The most common utensil made of melted coins was a kiddush cup (for the custom see: Assaf, The Regal Way, pp.404- 409 and especially p. 409 and remarks no. 92-94;) ******************************************************************************************************************************* FREE S/H in US only. Enjoy the auction! Thank you for shopping! Place a Bid!