Silver Etrog Container

One of our new items is a silver Etrog Container, marked WB 800. The Etrog Container is beautifully engraved with floral and foliage patterns, with a cartouche at its front. The container is marked with cypher 800 for silver fineness and with the maker's mark WB, which might refer to the English silversmith William Bennett (c1790-1830).

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot belongs to the cycle of the three pilgrim festivals: Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Weeks) and Sukkot (Booths). According to tradition, Sukkot commemorates a founding event in the history of the Jewish people - the 40-year sojourn in the wilderness. It also marks a pivotal agriculture season - Ingathering. The bible calls for the taking of "Four Species" on Sukkot: Lulav (palm frond), Hadas (myrtle springs), Aravah (willow branch) and Etrog (citron).

The Etrog Containers, a main Sukkot article, are a late development and appear in many forms, amongst them ovoid, cylindrical and rectangular containers, ranging in style from extreme simplicity to great splendor.