A Grandiose Silver Pesach Compendium by Shuki Freiman. Jerusalem 1992.

A Grandiose Silver Pesach Compendium by Shuki Freiman. Jerusalem 1992.

An impressive piece of modern Jewish art made of massive and particularly impressive silverwork, and weighing close to ten kilograms.

This compendium is exquisitely designed and executed, making a grand and majestic impression. The silverwork is of excellent quality, with an emphasis on a variety of details and decorative motifs and ornamental and luxurious elements. The structure of the compendium is round and wide (43 cm in diameter), massive and extremely heavy. On its outer facets of are numerous scenes from the Passover Haggadah, executed through a high-quality and impressive manual engraving technique. Beneath each scene appears a Hebrew inscription with the simanim of the Seder (Kadesh, Rachatz, Karpas Yachatz, etc.)

Atop the uppermost level is a heavy removable oval tray resting on six legs, with cut-out partially gilt decorations, inscribed around its center with the verse: "Remember this day You came out of Egypt from the house of slavery, because God brought you out of it with a strong hand..."

And also: "You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days."

Upon this tray are 5 silver wheelbarrows lined with cobalt blue niello work and engraved with the names of the main components of the Passover seder (maror, zro'a, karpas...etc.). These stylized containers are positioned around a wide central circle made of impressive gilded silver work.

Two of the facets on the first level of the bowl are fitted with a thin silver rod suspended from a chain, which permit the "doors" of the compendium to be opened to expose the inner levels for holding the three matzot. When opened, these doors reveal an impressive image of Jerusalem and her holy sites, accompanied by the famous closing words of the Seder: "Next year in the built Jerusalem".

The compendium was custom-made by the celebrated silversmith Shuki Freiman for an important Jewish family in London, in 1992.

Shuki Freiman is a seventh-generation Jerusalemite, and one of the most accomplished modern Jewish silversmiths. Freiman founded his workshop in 1967 and continues to this day to create superb items of Judaica.

A unique museum piece.

9.6 kilo, 43 cm (diam).