About this lot

Description

A 20th century silver spice tower, London 1993, of traditional somewhat baluster form with four hanging bells and hinged side door with bayonet catch, raised on a circular pedestal foot 4.5ozt 27cm (11in)
Other Notes: According to legend, each Jew receives a special soul (neshama yetera) on the Sabbath. As this extra soul leaves the body at the close of the Sabbath, one is overcome with a certain degree of sorrow. The spices are interpreted as a means of comfort at the moment of transition to the new week. As it was customary in ancient times to welcome the Sabbath with branches of myrtle, so, during the service to usher out the Sabbath, 'the Havdalah ceremony' people inhaled the fragrances of their branches. In the course of generations, aromatic spices, most popularly cinnamon and cloves, began to replace the myrtle.

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