UNIQUE SET OF TEN BIBLICAL PEWTER PLATES. Germany, 18th century.

Ten pewter plates, all engraved in center with image relating to Biblical scene, with appropriate Biblical passage in Hebrew or German engraved on rim. 1. Raised flat rim; no mark found; Diam: 235mm. In center: At left, large brick house with tiled roof, with turret, chimney; Sarah stands in doorway; Abraham runs to greet three angels. In background: table under tree. On rim, in Hebrew, Genesis 18:2. 2. Shallow bowl; no marks found; Diam: 235mm. Image in two registers: Left to right, above: pit with ladder, snake; tree beneath which three figures slaughter kid to stain the coat of many colors. Below, two Midianites with hats; one leads Joseph away, another pays. 3. Shallow bowl; triple unclear mark; Diam: 235mm. Jacob, seated on chair, received his son bearing the garment of Joseph. Interior similar to No. 4; at left, landscape with tree, animal, sun.On rim, in Hebrew, Genesis 37:32. 4. Shallow bowl; triple unclear mark; Diam: 235mm. Pharaoh, on throne, flanked by lion, points to small figure behind bars; set in arched interior with decorated ceiling; other figures in attendance; tree at left edge. On rim, in Hebrew: Genesis 41:17. 5. Shallow bowl; triple unclear mark; Diam: 235mm. Around tree, seven figures: Egyptians, with mustaches, discover the goblet in Benjamin's sack. On rim, in Hebrew: Genesis 44:12. 6: Dish with recessed base, flat raised rim; no marks found, initials in verso; Diam: 235mm: Solomon, on throne, seated within archway, commands soldier to split baby as seated mother holds dead child and other mother looks on in horror. On rim: Song of Songs 1:1,.2 (Indirect reference to works of Solomon.). 7. Deep dish, raised rim; unclear mark; Diam: 235mm. Avshalom, on horse, is depicted with his glorious hair caught in a tree; in background, figure of soldier. Engraved on rim, in German, flanking engraved flowering branch: Samuel II 18:10. 8. Raised rim; engraved initials on verso; triple angel marks; Diam: 220mm. A man (Elkanan), his wife and their two sons are seen walking. German inscription: Ruth 1:1. 9. Deep dish, raised rim; Marked"Orbach;" Diam: 230mm. Three corpses lie on bed, surrounded by three women, set within arch. On rim, in German: paraphrase of Ruth 1:5, referring to Naomi and her daughters in law, who have all been widowed. 10. Deep dish, raised flat rim; no marks found; Diam: 230mm. Rabbi at table oversees the Halizah ceremony, as a woman removes her brother-in-law's shoe. The German text engraved on the rim is a paraphrase of Ruth 1:5; this scene, while alluded to in the text, did not actually occur, since Ruth was redeemed by her husband's relative Boaz and thus did not require the ceremony.

This unequalled set of decorative plates formed part of the consignor's family collection of Judaica in Germany in the late 19th century. His great-grandfather brought the collection with him when he emigrated to the United States.