Purim Tray

This Purim tray from the seventeenth century was made in Hamburg, Germany. A fine repoussé piece, its center is adorned with a court scene, complete with a ruler sitting on a raised throne, surrounded by advisers, extending a gift to a subject kneeling below, her arm outstretched in supplication. The figures’ vivid presence is further emphasized through the richly hammered and engraved garments that give them a sense of movement and fluidity. The rim of the tray is decorated with fruits and birds.