The silver glass from the collection of the District Museum in Tarnów is one of the four glasses constituting a set (the others with inventory no. MT.IV.2383/2, MT.IV.2383/3, MT.IV.2383/4). It has a round, slightly raised foot with an oval, tapered stem at the top, on which is placed an upwards widening bowl with an upturned rim. The mantle of the glass is engraved with a decoration in the form of a strip surrounded by a double line. The fields are filled with alternating architectural and floral motifs. The architectural motifs refer to views of Jerusalem or other Jewish holy sites in the Promised Land.
Below the rim of the bowl, on the outer side, there are two goldsmith's marks: 1. Austro-Hungarian basic hallmark for silver fineness of "3" stamped in Kraków between 1872 and 1920, i.e. the head of Diana in profile, placed in a cinquefoil, flanked by the number "3" and the letter "E"; 2. goldsmith's name mark: initials "F.W." in a horizontal oval. The dent in the rim, caused by an impact from above, caused the glass to tilt slightly to one side.
Such glasses and cups are used to perform kiddush (Hebrew: "sanctification") – a ceremony involving the recitation of a prayer over a cup of wine (or vodka) during the evening beginning the Sabbath and other holidays. It is said by the master of the house in the presence of the entire family, immediately after returning from the synagogue, before the evening meal, and repeated the following morning. The prayer consists of two blessings: one over wine, the other over the Sabbath or other holidays.
The item was purchased for the District Musuem in Tarnów in 2004 from a private person from the Tarnów area. Its original origin is unknown.
Barbara Bułdys