1158 - Besamim Tower

Besamim Tower Around 1900 Silver Enameled plaques Colored stones/gemstones? Height 31 cm, 7.5 x 7.5 cm Weight 563.7 g This richly decorated Besamim Tower, created around 1900, follows directly in the tradition of the famous 18th-century spice towers from Schwäbisch Gmünd, of which only eight surviving examples are known worldwide—in Würzburg, Jerusalem, New York, London, Copenhagen, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Frankfurt am Main (JMF1987-0056). The towers of that era were elaborately crafted in silver filigree and adorned with enameled panels—a design that is reproduced here with near-perfect attention to detail. The tower is intended for the Jewish Havdalah ritual, in which fragrant herbs (besamim) are inhaled at the end of the Sabbath to bid a dignified farewell to the holy day. The intricately crafted tower shape holds deep symbolic meaning: it represents the heavenly city of Jerusalem or the Temple as a place of hope, redemption, and divine closeness. Of particular note are the enameled plaques arranged on two levels, depicting biblical scenes—including Jacob’s Ladder, Hagar and Ishmael, and Samson carrying the gates of Gaza. The imagery is based on the famous “Icones Biblicae” by Matthäus Merian, which were published in Frankfurt between 1625 and 1627 and influenced both Christian and Jewish visual traditions for centuries. The combination of silver filigree, enamel, and colored stones or glass inlays, as seen in this piece, was common in liturgical art, particularly for Christian objects—such as reliquaries or crucifixes. The fact that a Jewish ritual object from around 1900 deliberately drew upon these forms and techniques demonstrates cultural openness and a pursuit of outstanding quality in both craftsmanship and aesthetics. This besamim tower is a rare example of the artisanal and cultural heritage of Jewish communities in Europe around 1900. In its form, iconography, and craftsmanship, it draws directly on the legendary pieces of the 18th century and bears witness to a living tradition that has inspired and been passed down across eras and denominations. Bibliography: Heuberger, Georg (ed.), *The Splendor of the Commandments—The Judaica Collection of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt am Main*, Cologne: Wienand, 2006."