Silver Drinking Bowl – "Shield of Zion" – Afghanistan, 1936

Silver Drinking Bowl – "Shield of Zion" – Afghanistan, 1936

Jam-tas, silver drinking bowl depicting the holy places and a Star of David. [Afghanistan], 1936.
Silver, engraved.
Shallow drinking bowl of the Jewish-Afghan tradition, with the inside densely engraved with decorative patterns: Star of David containing the words "shield of Zion" (Hebrew), surrounded by ogee arches depicting animals, vases, a schematic image of the Western Wall and a domed structure (possibly representing the Dome of the Rock). Dedicatory text (Hebrew): "May you be granted many pleasant years of life and be glad with Jerusalem, may it be built and established; Malkiel son of Shmuel Abramof, born 5 Cheshvan 5677". Four small cartouches at edge contain each one letter of the date – 5696 (1936). The outside is engraved with birds.
Such drinking bowls, like other household items, were often given as a wedding gift and inscribed with the groom's name and date of birth.
Reference: Zohar Hanegbi and Bracha Yaniv, Afghanistan, The Synagogue and the Jewish Home. Center for Jewish Art and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1991. Pp. 40-41. Item nos. 72-74.
Diameter: 9 cm. Good condition.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.