Photo Credit for images of the seder plate: Philip Cohen
This is a top view of the Seder plate constructed from post consumer recycled tin cans and vintage steel doll houses. There are multiple levels of symbolism in the form, patterns, and selection of materials. Scroll down for additional views and more information.
Commission for the Permanent Collection of Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, Ca.
16 3/4" height x 10 5/8 " width x 2 5/8" depth.
The top of the Seder plate is embossed with the traditional symbolic foods for the Seder service. Look for the:
Horseradish root;
Egg (upper right corner);
Shank bone;
Parsley;
Haroses (pyramid shape);
Orange (upper left corner).
Below you can see the windows and glass doors of Congregation Emanu-El. This divided light was used as the inspiration for the top divisions of the Seder plate.
Taking just a section of the door's divided light created six sections including the triangle. The triangle shape in the window works well to symbolize the Egyptian pyramids.
Full view of my seder plate below. The top of the seder plate is dominated by bold black lines which replicate a section of the divided light in the doors.
The pale yellow color of the top reminds me of the sand of the desert. The color also resonates with the yellow flower painted on the ceiling of the foyer. (Look for images of the painted ceiling below.)
The sides of the seder plate are sloped at the same angle as the pyramids.
LOOK CLOSELY at the blue background. It was taken from a post consumer recycled tin can from a Trivial Pursuit Millennium Game tin. You can still see the word "Pursuit".
The concept of Pursuit reminds me of Exodus --- where the Jewish people were pursued by Pharoah’s army . . . and the ongoing pursuit of the Jewish people over the millennia to observe their religion.
Tikkun Olam meaning “to repair the world” holds a deep connection to my decision to fabricate my Judaica from recycled tin cans and vintage steel doll houses. By removing materials destined for the junk piles or recycling bins, I want to personally demonstrate how each of us can make a difference, and that we are all responsible to repair the world. By reclaiming from the over abundance of our consumer society, we renew hope for the future.
A close-up view of the corner. (below)
The background blue on the side of my Seder plate (from the Trivial Pursuit Millennium tin) is a metallic iridescent and the pattern applique is a consistent light blue cut with a jeweler's saw from vintage steel doll house floor. Although the two sides look like they are different colors, it is a rather magical illusion of the way they reflect the light.
(Below left) A photo of the elaborately painted ceiling of the foyer at Congregation Emanu-El shows the rope pattern. This inspired the pattern on the end of my Seder plate. The vine with leaves was painted on both sides of the Tzedakah box (below right.) This Tzedakah box is a permanent fixture in the foyer of Congregation Emanu-El. At the time that the synagogue was built, charity was collected a nickel or dime at a time from congregation members.
The image (below) shows a close up of the other two sides of the Seder plate. The patterns on the side were inspired by the decorative ceiling of the foyer at Congregation Emanu-El. Scroll down to see additional photos of the ceiling.
The patterns on the side were cut from vintage steel doll house floor using a jeweler's saw , then filed carefully to create these beautiful forms. The patterns were inspired by the decorative patterns in the foyer of Congregation Emanu-El synagogue built in 1926.
Below are photos of different areas of the painted ceiling. It was very challenging to take good images of a ceiling 30 feet above your head in a dark room. Notice the variation of the double line, used in many different patterns.
