Dating from the beginning of the 20th century, this silver spice tin (Besamim, from Hebrew: bassamim, psumin-byksy) of the tower type is 24 cm high and 7 cm wide. Supported from below by a circular moulded foot passing into the shaft. A downward-facing collar has been placed at the junction with the main part of the spice box. Similar collar is found in the upper part of the object and also serves as the connection to the conical spire that terminates with a ball and pennant. On the periphery of the foot there is an illegible stamp and a "12" hallmark.
Besamim spice boxes belong to the basic objects of worship in Judaism. They come in a variety of shapes and forms. They were used in a ceremony called havdalah (Hebrew for "distinction"), held in private homes at the end of the Sabbath, and involving the inhalation of fragrances (roots or herbs) placed inside a balsamin through a door or a tilting roof. It was done as a commemoration of a similar activity that had taken place in the Jerusalem Temple until the time of its destruction. This ceremony, on the one hand, alleviated the sad moment of losing the extra soul gained during the Sabbath period and, on the other, strengthened the inhaler against the hardships of the weekday. The exhibit comes from the legacy of Tadeusz Kulisiewicz (1899-1988), a graphic artist associated with Kalisz, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. It was handed over to the museum in March 1993.
