Wine cup

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).