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Wine cup
Israel Vitale (Italian)
Italian (Alessandria)
about 1830
Medium/Technique
Silver
Dimensions
Height x diameter: 44.5 × 16.5 cm (17 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Inc. and the Jetskalina H. Phillips Fund
Accession Number2021.112a-b
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsRitual objects
This large silver covered cup was probably designed as an Elijah’s Cup rather than as a regular Kiddush cup for Friday night. During the Seder dinner on Passover, the fifth cup of wine is poured and left untouched in honour of Elijah, the prophet who, according to tradition, will arrive as an unknown guest to announce the advent of the Messiah. During the Seder, biblical verses are read while the door is briefly opened to welcome Elijah.
The cup’s bowl, stem and foot are chased throughout with vegetal and floral motifs. More specifically, the bowl is decorated with vertical fronds and scrolling floral border, the cover with palm and acanthus leaves (surmounted by an applied flower finial), the stem also with a palm and acanthus motif, and the base with repousse’ rose and acanthus leaves. The foot also features shields depicting the priest’s hands in blessing, the Tablets of the Law, and a tower probably intended as a coat of arm of the patron (possibly Della Torre, a Jewish Italian name).
The cup’s bowl, stem and foot are chased throughout with vegetal and floral motifs. More specifically, the bowl is decorated with vertical fronds and scrolling floral border, the cover with palm and acanthus leaves (surmounted by an applied flower finial), the stem also with a palm and acanthus motif, and the base with repousse’ rose and acanthus leaves. The foot also features shields depicting the priest’s hands in blessing, the Tablets of the Law, and a tower probably intended as a coat of arm of the patron (possibly Della Torre, a Jewish Italian name).
DescriptionThe domed base featuring shields with vignettes depicting the priest’s hands in blessing, the Commandments, and Old City Jerusalem, amid repousse rose and acanthus leaves, the stem chased with trellis ground and a palm and acanthus motif, the bowl with vertical fronds and scrolling floral border, the cover also with palm and acanthus, an applied flower spray finial on cover.
Marks
On lid, bowl, stem, and base rim with maker’s mark, town mark, and date letter.
ProvenanceErnesto Artom (b. 1868 – d. 1935), Rome; to his daughter, Luisa Artom Ginzburg (b. 1910 – d. 1999) and her husband, Nicola Ginzburg (b. 1899 – d. 1985), Rome and Wilmington, DE [see note 1]; to their son, Vittorio Artom Ginzburg (b. 1937 – d. 2018), Philadelphia; to his son, Artom Ginzburg; December 17, 2020, sale (Collection of Artom Ginzburg), Sotheby’s, New York, lot 111, to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 24, 2021)
NOTES:
[1] The family immigrated to the US from Italy in October, 1939, bringing the cup with them.
NOTES:
[1] The family immigrated to the US from Italy in October, 1939, bringing the cup with them.