Embroidered Seder towel (Sederzwëhl). [Southern Germany or Alsace], 1787.
Embroidery of colorful cotton and silk on linen; decorative silvery metal lace ribbon.
Long, thin fabric sheet. The top features a lamb on an altar with the embroidered caption "Passover Sacrifice". Around the altar, a pair of rampant lions hold a crown. The center features the name of the embroiderer – "Süsskind Rachel" – within a structure with two pillars, under which the date is given as 1787. The bottom embroidery features a basket producing vegetal patterns topped by a pair of peacocks and unidentified creatures or figures standing upon two rectangular bases. A blue silken ribbon is woven into the edges, with an endpiece of silvery metal tassels. Remains of silk suspension loops at upper edges.
Seder towels such as the present object were characteristic of the communities of southern Germany and Alsace, and were produced for home use on festive occasions, usually Passover. For comparisons, see: Grossman, Fabric of Jewish Life (New York, 1977), nos. 220-221; Isaiah Shachar, The Feuchtwanger Collection (Jerusalem, 1971; Hebrew), no. 436; Ester Muchawsky-Schnapper, The Jews of Alsace (Jerusalem, 1991; Hebrew), no. 33.
Height: 132 cm. Width: 40 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and folding marks. Some stains. Tears to blue ribbon at edges. Several tears across margins. Top suspension loops torn.
