An ancient Jewish ritual cup, believed to be the oldest known Kiddush cup from the Middle Ages, is set to make its public debut before being auctioned in New York on October 29. The Cup of Joy, as it is called, will be displayed at Sotheby's in London between April 25 and 29, 2024, during the Islamic, Orientalist, and Middle Eastern Art Week.
Estimated to be worth between $3 million to $5 million, the Kiddush cup is an artifact from the 11th or 12th century, likely originating in Khorasan. This region was once part of the Persian Empire and now encompasses parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. During that period, Khorasan was home to a vibrant Jewish community that thrived until it was destroyed by the invasions of Genghis Khan.
"This cup is not only an exceptional record of the presence of Jewish communities in Central Asia in the Middle Ages and of the cultural exchanges with the Islamic world that surrounded them," said Sharon Liberman Mintz, a senior Judaica curator at Sotheby's. "It also embodies a shared artistic language that crosses religions and identities. The survival of such an item for almost a thousand years is amazing."
The Kiddush cup is adorned with inscriptions in both Hebrew and Arabic, an unusual combination that indicates mutual influences and cultural closeness between Jews and Muslims in the region. The name of the ancient owner, Simcha ben Salman, is engraved on its surface, along with double blessings for joy in both languages. On the cup, it is written: "Simcha ben Salman, may Simcha live forever and ever," alongside the Arabic blessings: "Congratulations, and blessing and joy, and happiness, long life to its owner."
Researchers believe the duplication of the blessings may not be coincidental. The word "joy" appears twice in Hebrew, and in Arabic, the exact translation is written twice. This repetition may reflect an aesthetic appreciation for textual symmetry and highlight the blending of cultures.
The cup is made of silver and decorated with silversmithing work characteristic of Central Asia during that era, including motifs of grape leaves and a distinctive style of writing. Its design resembles a small group of Muslim silver vessels from the period, such as the Mountain Treasure currently displayed in the Islamic Museum in Jerusalem.
Experts suggest that the artist, probably a local Muslim silversmith, chose to combine the double blessing out of respect for the owner and his name, as well as to create an aesthetic reflection of textual symmetry. They believe it was produced by a local workshop that operated in the Khorasan region at the peak of its cultural-artistic flourishing.
The Kiddush cup constitutes a rare testimony to trade, cultural dialogue, and Jewish prosperity along the Silk Road nearly a thousand years ago. With fewer than two dozen known pieces of Judaica from the medieval period, its emergence offers a glimpse into a bygone era.
Despite its historical importance, the cup has never been publicly displayed and has remained unseen for decades, being part of a private family collection since the 1950s. Its upcoming exhibition and sale have generated excitement among experts in Jewish studies, archaeology, and Islamic art alike.
The Arabic inscription on the cup includes a sequence of wishes and blessings: "With luck and blessing, joy and happiness, glory, prosperity, wealth, grace, success, health, completeness, joy, and long life to its owner." Such elaborate blessings underscore the significance of the cup as not just a ritual object but also a cherished possession imbued with personal meaning.
Sotheby's, the auction house leading the sale of the Cup of Joy, has been owned since 2019 by Israeli-French billionaire Patrick Drahi. "This is an item that illustrates the complex and fascinating history of Jewish existence in the Diaspora, especially in Muslim areas," emphasized Mintz.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.