Summary

Glass spice container (bowl and lid), part of a handcrafted Jewish Havdalah set consisting of a Kiddush cup, spice container, candle holder and tray or base. It was created by Melbourne artist Ede Horton in her home studio in Camberwell in 2010. The three pieces are made from kiln cast, lead crystal glass and they sit on an aluminium base. The spice container has the following inscription: 'Let us celebrate the breath of all living things and praise all essences.' (from Marcia Falk ''The Book of Blessings', Harper Collins, San Francisco 1996) The collection also includes artist tools, sketches and technical drawings and digital photographs.

Ede Horton is a glass artist who was born in Sydney, her mother Czechoslovakian and father German, both survivors of the Holocaust in Europe. Ede's Jewish heritage is central to her identity and has worked from her studio in Melbourne since 1981. She is inspired to both celebrate and reinterpret Jewish ritual practices through her glass creations. The Havdalah ceremony represented by this artwork incorporates candles, spices, wine and prayer to welcome in the new week.

A video of Ede reflecting on her work (and handling this set) can be viewed on the Immigration Museum Identity exhibition website: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/resources/identity/people-like-me/

Physical Description

Handcrafted Jewish Havdalah set consisting of a Kiddush cup, spice container, candleholder and tray. Three pieces made from kiln cast, lead crystal glass and sit on an aluminium base.

Significance

Jewish glass artist Ede Horton has a local and national profile and her work makes a significant contribution to representation of Jewish migration, culture and identity in the Museums's collection, engaging with traditional Jewish cultural traditions through a contemporary Australian lens.

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