The Passover Seder is one of the most sensory-heavy rituals of the Jewish year. Themes such as captivity, redemption and renewal are materialized in the form of bitter herbs, parsley and hard-boiled egg.
During the holiday, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, the star of the whole experience is the Seder plate.
While there are specific methods of preparing and arranging the items on the plate, there are hardly any rules about the ceremonial platter itself. Throughout history, Seder plates have come in many shapes and sizes. Some are as simple as a ceramic dish, some have built-in matzah holders, and other more modern designs have taken on a whole new art form.
As you prepare your own Passover Seder, here are seven Seder plates to be inspired by.
1. The Israel Museum says this is the earliest known Seder plate in existence, dating back to the 15th century, pre-expulsion Spain. The Hebrew inscription in the center refers to the main components of the holiday.
2. If you feel like splurging on your Seder table, look no further than Jerusalem-based Judaica brand Nadav Art. All items in the store are handcrafted by silversmith Avi Nadav, a graduate of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.
A wide variety of sterling silver items are among the pieces on offer. This year’s collection includes a premium Seder plate made from 925 silver and amethyst stones for your ultimate luxury holiday table.
3. Go for the gold with Tel Aviv-based fine ceramics brand Yahalomis. Founded in 2014 by husband and wife Tal and Roy Yahalomi, the online and physical shop offers home accessories and modern Judaica.
Among their bestsellers is a Seder plate, the center of which is decorated with 24K gold spelling the word “Pesach,” Hebrew for Passover.
4. A three-tiered Seder plate from Austria in the 19th to 20th century includes receptacles for the symbolic foods atop a cabinet of three trays for matzah.
5. Studio Armadillo’s Corian Judaica centerpiece is designed in a rich geometric pattern that symbolizes waves. It is inspired by the biblical Exodus – God’s miraculous parting of the Red Sea under the leadership of Moses.
6. Another Exodus-themed Seder plate that you can purchase online is an exact replica of a plate from Alsace dating to the second half of the 19th century.
The plate’s central illustration is believed to depict the story of the Exodus. The original plate is currently on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where you can buy the replicated version from the museum’s Eliezer Burstein collection.
7. The design of this plate, from the late 19th to early 20th century Europe, was inspired by earlier Seder plates made in Italy. Haggadah illustrations are stamped and hammered into the silver rim and a Hebrew inscription of the order of Seder and the blessing over the matzah are in the center.
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