On sugar boxes (zuckerdosen) and etrog boxes...

[dragonflywink]

Recently, in a discussion group on general antiques, on a very large venue often filled with misinformation, someone suggested that a silver box with keyed lock, bearing the marks of a late 19th-early 20th century Viennese silversmith, was an etrog box, and this was apparently confirmed by someone I like and respect, but disagree with in this case.

Personally, grow weary of so many different silver cups and goblets identified as kiddush cups, or of sugar boxes described as etrog boxes, and firmly declared as Judaica, despite having no decoration, personalization or provenance to suggest they have anything to do with Jewish tradition. Clearly, a sugar box can be used to hold etrog, and a vessel of proper size can hold kiddush wine, and no doubt some were used for those purposes, but while it may even be acceptable to suggest these items can be used as such, that doesn't negate their original intended purpose. Modern Judaica retailers do offer etrog boxes based on old sugar boxes, but they lack locks & keys - can't really recall seeing old etrog boxes, like those in the realistic or stylized shape of the citron fruit or otherwise identifiable as Jewish, with a locking latch.

Does anyone else find this troubling, or has it just become completely acceptable to call an item whatever seemingly makes it more interesting and/or valuable?

The piece in question, with floral decoration, is quite similar in form and dating to the two Austrian sugar boxes pictured below:




~Cheryl

[Bahner]

Hi Cheryl, sorry for the late answer. Good question, took me awhile to think about it. Agree with you - it seems acceptable to make almost any statement about an object to make it more interesting, expensive or whatever. Facts matter less and less. Which can be said about a lot of subjects, not just silver. About the box: agree again. There was no need for an etrog box to have a lock. So if there is one and there is a "conventional" knob on top of the box and no engraving to connect it to Jewish customs then it is most likely a sugar box and not an etrog box. Regards, Bahner

[dragonflywink]

Thank you for the response, Bahner - always nice to see you posting. Also nice to know that I'm not alone - and some people are just going to think whatever they like regardless of facts, but unfortunately, the misinformation spreads like wildfire on the internet...

~Cheryl

[AG2012]

Hi,
Jewish tradition is well defined but unscrupulous sellers would describe whatever object as ‚‚Judaica‚‚ if it`s lucrative. Huge market with fakes and poor attribution.
``Zuckerdosen`` are interesting subject. Was sugar really kept locked at the end of 19th century? Or were they actually tea caddies? Some older 18th century boxes could be used as trinket boxes for jewelry etc. but not later deep Austrian and German boxes. Anyway, Zuckerdose is widely accepted term for sugar box within German speaking countries regardless of its actual usage.
Judaica:
1. Particular finial, knob – citron fruit (ambiguous)
2. Hebrew chased and embossed decor or engraved lettering (converted Zuckerdose).
Regards