Standing Kiddush Cup (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- A kiddush cup is a ceremonial object used to hold wine or grape juice for the blessing at the beginning of Shabbat and other Jewish festivals.
- During the time in which this kiddush cup was created, it would have been unusual to have one made specifically for use as a chalice for this ceremonial blessing.
- A silversmith named Hans Schauer made this cup in Nuremberg, Germany, in the 1600s. During that time Nuremberg was a center for goldsmithing and silversmithing.
- The cup’s shape, stem, and decorative engraving are distinct to the artists who were active in Nuremberg in the 1600s.
- Many of the details on this cup, including the artist’s initials, were made using a punch tool.
- The inscription on this cup is an owner’s monogram of three Hebrew letters (lamed, bet, and tet). These three letters represent the initials LBT.
Learn More
A kiddush cup is a Jewish ceremonial object. It is used to hold wine or grape juice for the blessing at the beginning of Shabbat and on festivals, at special meals. Kiddush cups are used today in many Jewish homes and synagogues. When this kiddush cup was made in the 1600s, it was rare to have one made especially for this Hebrew blessing. Before the 1800s most kiddush cups were simply repurposed household cups. Many kiddush cups are family heirlooms that are passed down through generations. Others are given as gifts, to celebrate major life events.
Hans Schauer was a German silversmith who was born in Schleusingen. He worked in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1634 until his death in 1659. In the 1600s Nuremberg was known for its silversmiths and goldsmiths. The cup’s decorative engraving, shape, and ornate stem are a style specific to artists in Nuremberg during that time. Schauer used a punch tool (a hard metal rod with a narrow tip at one end) to create the inscriptions and engravings on this cup. He held the narrow end of the tool against the cup and struck the other end with a hammer, to create indentations in the metalwork.
The Hebrew inscription on this kiddush cup is an owner’s monogram. It consists of three Hebrew letters: lamed, bet, and tet. These three letters are the equivalent to LBT. Schauer also inscribed his maker’s mark, or initials, on this cup. These inscriptions date to the 1600s. It is rare for a kiddush cup to have inscriptions that were made at the same time as the cup. Inscriptions are usually added generations later.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read a story from Holocaust survivor Alfred Traum about his family’s kiddush cup.
- View another kiddush cup at the NCMA.
- View a lithograph depiction of kiddush cups by Janet Fish.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video about a kiddush cup at the Jewish Museum of Australia.
- Design your own kiddush cup.
Images
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Standing Kiddush Cup
A tall silver and gold cup with an elongated, decorative stem. The cup is engraved with swirling patterns and Hebrew lettering.