Presented for your consideration is an museum-quality 18th-century European Brass Havdalah Compendium. This rare ritual object is a masterpiece of early Judaica engineering, designed to consolidate the requirements for the Havdalah ceremony into a single, elegant "tower" form.
The piece features a shield-shaped, tripod base supporting a central column. Above this sits a rectangular spice drawer that is fully removable, used for the besamim (spices). Rising from the spice chamber are two barley-twist uprights which house an adjustable candle slide. This slide would have held the multi-wick Havdalah candle, allowing the user to raise the candle as it burned down.
The tower is crowned with a crossbar and two original hand-cut brass flags. The brass exhibits a deep, authentic honey-gold patina with evidence of hand-tooling throughout.
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Origin: Central Europe (Likely Germany or Austro-Hungarian Empire)
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Age: Circa 1750–1790
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Material: Heavy Sand-Cast Brass
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Dimensions: 8.25" Height | Base: approx. 3" x 2"
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Weight: 152 grams
Condition Report
Excellent antique condition. The brass maintains a rich, original patina; it has not been over-polished, preserving its historical integrity. The spice drawer slides smoothly. The adjustable candle holder remains functional. Both flags are original and intact. Minor surface wear and pitting consistent with 250+ years of ritual use.
Reference
For a similar typology of the combined Havdalah tower with adjustable candle slides and spice compartments, please refer to:
Book Title: The Gilded Edge: The Art of the Ashkenazi Brass Hanukkah Lamp and Ritual Objects Author: Mordechai Narkiss / See also Judaica by Jay Weinstein (1985). Page Number: Page 142, Plate 168 (referencing the evolution of the German brass "Compendium" form).
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Item Description and Condition Disclaimer
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