Besomim (spice) container
Hanau, Hessen, Germany, c1775
Silver, pierced, engraved; h 26 cm, w 8 cm

An example of the "historismus" designs popular in Germany in the late 19th century, this tower emulates 18th-century design and carries false silver marks. It was crafted around 1900 by one of several manufacturers who made such Judaica, most of whom were in Hanau, Germany, the most well-know being that of Lazarus Posen in Frankfurt a.m. and in Berlin. The Judaica designs of these firms were extremely popular and were found in a large number of German Jewish homes in the first quarter of the 20th century.