Kiddush Cup 925 Silver Signature with Base — approx. 9 cm

The flared foot makes the difference: this cup stands on the table, instead of just being held in the hand. This is the cup for someone who recites the blessing and then sets it down while the wine is passed around. Anyone who has ever placed a footless cup on a set table knows the difference.

At a glance

• Kiddush cup made of 925 sterling silver
• Height approx. 9 cm — silver weight approx. 0.23 kg
• Flared base, chased body
• Interior gilded
• Zaramella Argenti, Padua — Manufactory since 1948

Why a foot makes a difference

Kiddush cups come in two basic forms: as a simple cup without a foot, which fits entirely in the hand, and as a cup on a flared base.

The foot has a practical reason. The blessing is not short, and the cup is filled to the brim. A cup with a wide base can be safely set down in between without tipping over — and it stands on the set table as an object in its own right, even when no one is holding it.

At approx. 230 grams, this piece is significantly heavier than a footless cup. The weight is at the bottom, making it stable.

The Kiddush

The Kiddush — "sanctification" — opens Shabbat and holidays. The blessing is recited over a cup of wine; then the speaker drinks, and the cup is passed around or the wine is distributed into smaller glasses.

The cup is thus one of the items used weekly — unlike the Cup of Elijah, which stands on the table once a year for Passover. What is used weekly should be robust: solid silver, gilded interior, no delicate attachments.

The interior gilding

Wine is acidic, and silver reacts to acid. Over the years, the interior wall would become dull, and the taste would suffer. An interior gilding places a layer in between that does not react. It has been common for silver drinking vessels for centuries — not as decoration, but because the inside of a cup cannot be polished.

Material and origin

The advantage of solid silver over silver-plated goods is doubly evident in a cup: Chasing only succeeds in solid silver — a plating would tear during hammering — and the interior gilding protects precisely where polishing is impossible. A cup that is filled over decades needs both. The Italian hallmark of the manufactory identifies the material.

Zaramella Argenti has been manufacturing in Padua since 1948. The ornaments of the Signature line are chased: hammered into the silver by hand with punches, stroke by stroke, not pressed under a machine.

As a gift

For Bar or Bat Mitzvah, when a child becomes religiously mature and recites the blessing for the first time. For a wedding, when a new household is established. A cup with a stand is particularly suitable for this, because it maintains its posture even when simply standing on the table — visible, all year round.

Engraving

The smooth edge of the foot can accommodate a name with a date. On cups passed down through generations, several engravings are often found one below the other. We advise you in advance on placement and size. Upon request, we can include a SilberVerse card, 15 × 10 cm, currently free of charge.

Care

By hand with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth, then dry thoroughly — even inside. No dishwasher: cleaning salts attack silver and would damage the gilding. Rinse promptly after use so that no wine dries on. Tarnishing only affects the outside and is reversible with a silver cloth. More in the guide on the care of silver cutlery and silver dinnerware.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it differ from the footless cup?

It stands securely on the table and is heavier at approx. 230 grams. The footless cup fits completely in the hand and is lighter.

Is it food-safe?

Yes. 925 silver is suitable for food contact; the interior gilding also separates the wine from the metal.

Is the cup kosher?

We offer silver items and describe their use — we cannot provide religious legal information. Your community can answer questions about ritual suitability.

Is it also available with a plate?

Yes — together with the plate of approx. 16×16 cm as a Kiddush set. Both parts are also available individually.

Does it come in gift packaging?

Yes, in high-quality packaging from the manufacturer.

The foot — and what goes with it

A foot raises the cup by a few centimeters. This sounds like a minor detail, but it changes two things in use: the cup is more secure to grip because the thumb finds purchase below the bowl, and it stands more stably on a set table.

Together with the square plate of approx. 16×16 cm, it forms the Kiddush set. Both parts are also available individually.

Without a foot, but slightly taller, is the cup of approx. 10 cm next to it. With a gold accent, the line features the partially gilded cup — same height, different appearance.

You might also be interested in

Further ritual objects in the category Judaica made of 925 silver, the entire line under Signature by Zaramella. The Friday evening when this cup is used is described in Silver at the Jewish Table.