Images(2)

Five Wine Cups for Passover Seder

Artist Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert Israeli American, born Germany, 1900–1981

Datecirca 1964

MediumSilver, glass

DimensionsH. (each) 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)

ClassificationsGlass

Credit LineGift of Drs. Abram and Frances Pascher Kanof

Object numberG.80.8.1/a-e

On View

Not on view

Label TextWolpert often found expressive use of Hebrew text as ornament by incorporating meaningful citations of biblical verses and through his creative, modernist explorations of Hebrew lettering. These silver sleeves for glass wine cups are formed from biblical phrases describing God’s intervention on behalf of the Israelites:

"God brought us out"

"I took you"

"I redeemed you"

"I rescued you"

"I brought you out"

The use of Hebrew as a design element may also be seen in the adjacent Wine Cup for the Prophet Elijah by Moshe Zabari, who trained under Wolpert.ProvenanceCreated New York, ca. 1964; collection of the artist, Tobe Pascher Workshop, The Jewish Museum, New York; Dr. and Mrs. Abram Kanof, New York, later Raleigh, NC, ca. 1964; given to NCMA, 1980.Published ReferencesAbram Kanof, Jewish Ceremonial Art and Religious Observance (New York: Abrams, 1969), 146, illus. (b-w) fig. 134.
Exhibition HistoryNew York, NY, The Jewish Museum, "Contemporary Ceremonial Art" (installation of Jewish Museum's collection, with additional loans), 1965-[1970s?].

New York, NY, The Jewish Museum, "Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert: A Retrospective," March 31 - August 8, 1976, then traveling, no. 45 (as Passover Cups).

Asheville, NC, Asheville Art Museum, "Modern Ceremonial Art in the Judaic Tradition" (NCMA traveling exhibition), December 11, 1997-March 7, 1998.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–June 6, 2025. Object Rights Statement

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