Featured Help Indentifying Item.

Any Ideas? It is a bout 8 1/2 inches high and the gate on the front opens. It is marked Sterling Silver 925 Germany. Thanks.

 

The previous owner said he was told it was a cricket box???

 

It is a Jewish Besamim tower, for fragrant spices. It is used during Havdalah, a ceremony to end the Shabat and mark the start of the new week. It is also used for Havdalah on certain religious holidays.
The fragrant spices are part of awakening or sharpening the senses. Sephardic Jews often use herbs, but it is likely that this one is Ashkenazic, because of the style, and the fact that it was made in Germany.

Worth more than a (Chinese?) cricket box.

 

Thank you so much for your reply - I had no idea what it was - I searched and searched even trying google image which told me it was a lamp!

 

Judaica, Jewish items, are not all that well known, but there is a good, solid collectors market.

 

My question was if it was an insensitive item because it was made in Germany probably pre-war and due to my ignorance of the time I erased the post - Upon further reflection, it was most likely made by a Jewish silversmith in better times over there.

 

Edit: I just noticed you deleted the question. It wasn't insensitive, don't worry, and here is the answer I had already written.

Ashkenazic Jews are also known as German or Eastern European Jews. There is still a strong Jewish community in Germany, and Jewish silversmiths.
Eastern European Jewish communities didn't only suffer WW II, but also Communist rule. They are slowly being revived, often by young part-Jewish people who want to connect with their roots. Hungary is a special case, many Israelis buy holiday homes and even settle there now.

Sephardic Jews are also known as Portuguese Jews. Their culture is influenced by medieval Spain, where they lived before they were kicked out (1492) and moved to Portugal. After a while they had to leave there too and moved to the Low Countries (notably Amsterdam) and around the Mediterranean.
I live in the Netherlands, where we have both communities.

 

Lovely piece. I agree there is a nice market for some Judaica.