Early Silver Besamim Tower. Germany, 18th Century
A beautiful 18th century besamim holder styled after the famous Nuremberg Towers.
Marked with quality mark 12, artisan’s insignia IR, and assayer’s zigzag mark, this silver besamim holder is finely crafted in the shape of a tower, engraved, chased, embossed, and screwed. The piece is mounted on a domed, fluted base with a conical stem. The tower-shaped body features a pierced door, windows and balcony, and is topped by a tall conical spire with engraved eaves that culminate in a filigree knob and pennant (missing).
The tower’s shape is reminiscent of the famous Nuremberg towers from the early 18th century, as evident from the window and door carvings, hinged locking mechanism between the tower body and base, and the distinct shape of the tower body and balcony.
See Spice Tower Exhibition Book at the Israel Museum 1982,
(p. 25, items #22- 23) and the Stieglitz Collection (p. 108). Item #418 in The
Collection of the Jewish Museum London Book, is identical to the present
besamim tower and dated Germany, circa 1750.
Condition: Good with slight repairs, lacking pennant.
Size: 21 cm high
Estimate: $8,000-12,000
Provenance:
1. Christie’s, November 25, 1997 item 480
2. Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection
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