Mother-of-pearl necklace 925 silver Signature — approx. 42 cm, inscribed

Each of the six indentations bears, in Hebrew letters, the name of the food that belongs there. This makes the plate less of a piece of tableware and more of a teaching tool: it preserves the order around which the evening is structured. The larger of the two sizes — the right choice for celebrations at a long table.

At a glance

• Seder plate (Ke'ara) in 925 sterling silver
• Diameter approx. 42 cm — silver weight approx. 1.2 kg
• Six labeled indentations for the symbolic foods
• Wide chased rim with vines and grapes
• Zaramella Argenti, Padua — manufacture since 1948

The six foods

The Seder plate — Ke'ara in Hebrew — carries the foods upon which the evening bases its narrative. Each stands for something, and each has its own hollow.

Sroa, a roasted bone, represents the Paschal sacrifice; its shape evokes the outstretched arm with which the liberation from Egypt was achieved. Beitza, a hard-boiled egg, represents the festival sacrifice.

Maror, a bitter herb, usually horseradish, recalls the bitterness of servitude. Chaseret, a second bitter herb, often romaine lettuce, stands for the exile.

Charosset, a paste of apples, nuts, and wine, resembles the clay from which the Israelites had to form bricks in Egypt. And Karpas, a vegetable such as parsley or celery, is dipped in salt water — as a fruit of the earth, it stands for hard labor.

Why the labeling is practical

A Seder plate without labeling requires someone at the table to know what goes where. That is usually the case — but not always, and not with every guest who helps set the table.

The integrated names eliminate this question. They also make the plate readable for children helping with preparations for the first time, and for guests who are rarely present. On an evening where the core is telling and explaining, this is more than just a convenience.

The size

Approx. 42 cm is a generous size. The six hollows are positioned far enough apart so that the foods do not touch, and the rim remains wide enough to handle the plate safely.

It takes up a corresponding amount of space on the table. It is the center of the Seder evening — for smaller groups or cramped tables, the 38-cm model from the same line is the more appropriate choice.

Material and origin

For a piece meant to be passed down through generations, the difference compared to silver-plated goods is decisive: a coating wears off, solid silver does not. It can be polished again and again, and the ornamentation — which can only be chased in solid silver — remains intact.

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. A dense band of vines and grapes runs along the rim — wine and harvest, which point to an evening where both play a role.

As a gift

For a wedding, when a couple hosts a Seder themselves for the first time. A Seder plate is the piece you start with — the evening cannot be set without it, whereas cups and plates can be added later.

As a joint gift for a young couple, as a donation to a congregation, or for a housewarming. It is used once a year and passed down through generations.

Engraving

The smooth edge between the rim and the outer border can accommodate an inscription. For plates that stay within families, the occasion — a wedding date, a name — is often recorded there. We will advise you in advance regarding placement and line arrangement. Upon request, we will include a SilberVerse card (15 × 10 cm) free of charge.

Care

Clean by hand with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth, then dry thoroughly — including inside the hollows and the letters. No dishwasher: cleaning salts attack silver. Clean promptly after the Seder, especially after charosset and salt water, both of which leave residues. Tarnish is reversible with a silver cloth; the darker depth may remain in the chased indentations and letters — that is what makes the script readable in the first place. More in our guide on caring for silver cutlery and silverware.

Frequently asked questions

Are the hollows labeled?

Yes, each of the six indentations bears, in Hebrew letters, the name of the food that belongs there.

Can I place food directly into the hollows?

Yes. For charosset and salt water, we recommend using small bowls as a liner and cleaning them promptly afterwards.

Is it available in a smaller size?

Yes — as a Seder plate at approx. 38 cm, with the same six labeled hollows. Without labeling, the same model series includes the round platter at approx. 46 cm.

Is the plate kosher?

We sell silverware and describe its use — we cannot provide religious legal advice. Questions regarding ritual suitability should be answered by your congregation.

Is it delivered in a gift box?

Yes, in high-quality packaging from the manufacturer.

Two sizes, one basic shape

Zaramella offers the Seder plate in two dimensions: approx. 42 cm — this one — and approx. 38 cm. Both feature the same six labeled hollows; the only difference is the surface area that remains between them.

The round silver platter at approx. 46 cm comes from the same model series — the same basic shape, but without labeling and without hollows. Those looking for neutral serving equipment in the same style will find it there.

The larger version is worthwhile if the Seder plate is placed on a long table and needs to be accessible from multiple sides. For a table of six to eight people, the smaller size is sufficient and leaves more room for other dishes.

And between two Passovers? A 42-cm Seder plate is too large for most cupboards and too beautiful to hide away. Displayed — in a glass cabinet, on a plate stand, or on the wall of a sideboard — the ritual object becomes a showpiece whose Hebrew inscription preserves the entire order of the evening.

You might also be interested in

Further ritual objects in the Judaica in 925 silver category, the entire line under Signature by Zaramella. The six symbolic foods and the order of the evening are explained in Silver at the Jewish Table.