Relics of the Black Death era put on show in UK
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Relics of the Black Death era put on show in UK
13 minutes ago
LONDON (AP) - Medieval silver vessels, historic coins and
glittering jewelry believed to have been hidden by Jews
who feared persecution as the Black Death raged through
14th Century Europe have gone on display in London.
Curators said the artifacts - which include the three
earliest known examples of Jewish wedding rings - were
likely buried as minorities across Europe were attacked
when disease and panic swept the continent.
London's Wallace Collection museum said many of the
pieces on show are ornate betrothal gifts, including a
double cup used in wedding ceremonies, and a perfume
bottle stopper thought to be at least 650 years old.
The museum said that one haul of artifacts was
discovered in the Jewish quarter of Colmar, France,
in 1863 and a second in Erfurt, Germany - close to
the remains of the town's 11th Century
synagogue - in 1998.
Valuables were buried by European Jews as other
communities sought to blame them and other minorities
for the deadly pandemic, which is estimated to have
reduced the world's population by between 75 and
100 million.
Members of Erfurt's Jewish community were murdered
or driven out during a pogrom that began in 1349.
A grooming set that contains an ear cleaner and
would once have held other pampering tools, delicate
brooches and dress fasteners also features in the
exhibition, the gallery said.
Around 3,000 coins and a gold wedding ring <<<
that bears the Hebrew inscription Mazel
Tov - good fortune - show scarcely seen
examples of Medieval metalwork.
The collection, which was previously shown in Paris
in 2007, will be put on permanent display at Erfurt's
former synagogue later this year. It will be shown in
London until May 10.
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