Two Silver Salt Dishes of the Mitteler Rebbe – Given to him by Prince Lubomirski When he Settled in Lubavitch in ...

Two Silver Salt Dishes of the Mitteler Rebbe – Given to him by Prince Lubomirski When he Settled in Lubavitch in 1813 – Later Given by the Maharash as a Wedding Gift to His Daughter-in-law Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah – With Certificate of Authenticity Signed by Rebbetzin Chana Gurary

Two salt dishes received by Rebbe Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch, from Prince Lubomirski.
Silver (hallmarks of London – 1771, and maker's mark, Thomas Shepherd) cast and engraved.
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… the set of salt dishes that the Mittler Rebbe got as a gift from Graf Lubermirsky when the city of Lubavitch was built. My grandmother Shterna Sarah received them as gift from her father-in-law the Rebbe Mahrash when she married the Rashab – my grandfather. I received it as a gift from my grandmother Shterna Sarah". The letter is dated 12th September, 1989.

The Mitteler Rebbe and  Prince Lubomirski 
Rebbe Dov Ber – the Mitteler Rebbe settled in the town of Lubavitch, Belarus on 18th Elul 1813, several months after the passing of his father the Baal HaTanya on 24th Tevet 1813, after fleeing Napoleon's army. Following the destruction of Liadi, the hometown of the Baal HaTanya, during the French invasion of Russia, the Mitteler Rebbe, who had just recently succeeded his father as rebbe, sought a place to reestablish his court. Upon the invitation of Prince Lubomirski, member of the prominent Lubomirski Polish princely family, the Mitteler Rebbe settled in Lubavitch in 1813. Lubavitch served as center of the Chabad movement for the next one hundred and two years. The prince, who showed great sympathy to the Jews, even provided the rebbe with wood to build his home and communal buildings.
The support of the Lubomirski family began already in the days of the Baal HaTanya, who settled in Liadi at the invitation of Prince Lubomirski. They were also instrumental in easing the terms of the imprisonment of the Mitteler Rebbe in 1827, and in helping rebuild Lubavitch after a fire destroyed it in the times of the Tzemach Tzedek.
According to the enclosed letter, the Mitteler Rebbe received this set of silver salt dishes from Prince Lubomirski, upon his settling in the city of Lubavitch in 1813 (the prince gave more silver utensils to the Mitteler Rebbe, see Kedem, online auction 32, lot 1; online auction 34, lot 1).
The letter also relates how these silver salt dishes were passed down through the Chabad dynasty. They were first given as a wedding gift from Rebbe Maharash (grandson of the Mitteler Rebbe) to his daughter-in-law Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah (whose engagement to his son Rebbe Rashab took place in 1865, in the home of the Tzemach Tzedek; the marriage took place ten years later in 1875) and many years later, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah gave them to her granddaughter Rebbetzin Chana Gurary.

Two salt dishes: Approx. 4.5X6.5 cm. Good condition. Minor damages.