Exquisite cup for Passover, made by Vilmos Farkasházi-Fischer. Cluj (Kolozsvár), 1881.
Porcelain; enamel.
Porcelain cup decorated in bright colors. The base and rim are decorated with golden flowers set between lines, against an orange background, and with vegetal decorations. The outer surface of the cup is decorated with orange and white bricks against a blue background, with flowers, lines and points. A blue line decorates the inside of the cup rim, and on it are circles with different geometric shapes. On the surface of the cup are two widthwise cartouches with colorful illustrations depicting scenes from Passover Eve, including two lengthwise cartouches, one with the dedication (in German): "Meinen / theuern Vater! / Gewidmet / von / Eduard. / 1881" [To my dear father! From Eduard, 1881], and the other with a Hebrew inscription reading: "Cup of Passover, L'Chaim! 1881".
At the bottom of the base are the artist's signature, "Fischer Vilmos, Kolozsvértt" and another inscription added by the artist: "Zur Erinerung am mein Siebenbürger geschaftsreise 1881" [A souvenir of my business trip to Siebenbürger (Transylvanian Saxons), 1881].
The artist Vilmos Fischer was born in Tata, Hungary, in 1839, to his father Mór Fischer, founder of the famous porcelain factory "Herend", which gained renown throughout the world. At a young age, Vilmos was put in charge of the coloring and decoration work at the factory and created some of Herend's trademark designs in the second half of the 19th century. Among other things, Vilmos headed the Neolog community of his city, Cluj. He died in Budapest in 1921. His works are displayed at the Jewish Museum of Budapest.
Height: 13 cm. Diameter of rim: 8 cm. Breaks in a few places, professionally restored.
See: The Jewish Museum of Budapest, Ilona Benoschofsky and Alexander Schieber (editors), Budapest, 1987, p. 36; pp. 133-134.