91. A Rare and Important Silver and Niello Kiddush Beaker
A rare and important silver and niello kiddush beaker. Turkey, 19th century. Decorated with alternating checkerboard and floral designs. Central ottoman state crest of sultan abdul hamid ii on one side and a hebrew inscription of “rabbi meir” on the other. Sultan abdul hamid ii (1842 – 1908) was the active sultan from 1876 – 1908. As a jewish- friendly sultan, he had a vision to bring 200,000 russian jews to turkey which didn’t work out. In 1902, theodor herzl met with the sultan to ask for a jewish homeland to be built in the ancestral land of israel while under ottoman rule. 3.2” tall. Estimate $8,000 – 12,000
