A Sterling Silver Kiddush Cup by Ludwig Wolpert

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A Sterling Silver Kiddush Cup by Ludwig Wolpert:
$1800.00

A refined and beautifully balanced sterling silver Kiddush cup designed by the renowned modernist silversmith Ludwig Wolpert. The cup is composed of two clean, geometric cylindrical forms: a tall upper cylinder for holding the wine — featuring a warm gilt interior — and a shorter, wider lower cylinder that provides a sturdy and elegant base.The lower section is boldly adorned with the Hebrew words "בורא פרי הגפן" (“Borei Pri HaGafen”), prominently embossed in striking italic Hebrew script, a hallmark of Wolpert’s masterful integration of typography, ritual function, and modern design. At the bottom of the cup—both on the exterior and subtly impressed inside the base—appear the designer’s signature “Wolpert” and the silver standard “925 Sterling.”This lot includes an additional element of historical interest and personal provenance:original correspondence from the cup’s first buyer to Betty Wolpert, the wife of Ludwig Wolpert. This letter not only enriches the cup’s story but also offers a rare glimpse into the relationship between the artist's family and the early collectors of Wolpert’s groundbreaking Judaica.This Kiddush cup is a superb example of Wolpert’s signature style—modern, pure lines that transform a ritual object into a timeless piece of functional art.Ludwig Wolpert was one of the most influential Judaica designers of the 20th century. Born in Hildesheim, Germany, he studied sculpture and metalwork at the School of Arts and Crafts in Frankfurt-am-Main, where he absorbed the aesthetic language of the Bauhaus—simplicity, geometry, and functional beauty.In 1933, Wolpert immigrated to Palestine (later Israel), becoming Professor of Metalwork at the New Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem. His radical minimalist approach reshaped the world of Judaica, replacing ornate traditional forms with clean, modern lines that emphasized clarity and purpose.His international reputation grew after his work was featured at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, introducing modern Judaica to audiences worldwide. In 1956, Wolpert founded and directed the Toby Pascher Workshop at the Jewish Museum in New York, where he taught and designed for 25 years, influencing generations of artists and establishing the foundation for contemporary ceremonial design.Today, Wolpert is celebrated as the father of modern Judaica, and works such as this elegant Kiddush cup—accompanied here by rare correspondence connected directly to the Wolpert family—remain highly prized for their artistic purity, historical significance, and spiritual resonance.3.26ozt

Creator:Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert(Artist)
Dimensions:Height: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)Diameter: 2.45 in (6.2 cm)
Style:Mid-Century Modern(Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:Sterling Silver,Embossed
Place of Origin:United States
Period:Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:1950s