The Serque Collection
A GALICIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER FILIGREE SPICE TOWER APPLIED WITH FIGURES, 18TH CENTURY
Auction Closed
June 5, 04:47 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A GALICIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER FILIGREE SPICE TOWER APPLIED WITH FIGURES, 18TH CENTURY
on claw-and-ball feet, the chamber surrounded by a gallery mounted with three gilt helmeted figures holding shields (originally four) and with clock face, multi-level tower enclosing a gilt bell and topped by gilt flag
height 12⅝ in.
32 cm
The inscriptions on the three shields are abbreviations for the blessings recited during the Havdalah ceremony: the blessing over wine, the blessing over spices, and the Havdalah blessing itself. The last corner piece, now missing, would have had the acrostic for the blessing over the flame.
This spice tower relates to one from the Collection of the Jewish Historical Society of England, sold Kestenbaum & Co., New York, December 6, 2012, lot 5. The figures of soldiers at the corners appear to be the same castings and the shields they hold are of same shape, both pieces probably come from the same workshop.