What’s the Best Actually Nice-Looking Judaica?
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There was a time when finding nice-looking Seder plates, menorahs, mezuzahs, Shabbat candlesticks, and the like was difficult.There were only a few prevailing aesthetics: traditional pieces in ornate silver and gold (pretty, but not the easiest to mix into otherwise casual décor and often very expensive); the modernist-bordering-on-austere pieces (a mezuzah that looks like it’s made out of a wrought-iron pipe); and the kitschy-thematic (like a menorah made up of eight miniature nail-polish bottles or a New York Knicks mezuzah).
Now, that’s no longer the case. New York–basedVia Marisoffers a range of minimalist, earthy Judaica in lovely matte shades and colored glass.Judaica Standard Timepartners with artists and studios across the country to produce one-of-a-kind pieces. And alongside the brands that have been lone standouts for years, likeJonathan AdlerandMichael Aram, there are suddenly plenty of small-scale ceramicists and other makers who are finding room in their usual offerings (be they vases or jewelry) to create Judaica in their signature styles.
We sifted through what’s out there (with a particular eye for beautiful Seder plates and other Passover tableware, given that the holiday is right around the corner) to pull the chicest, coolest, and most unexpected Judaica for right now and beyond.
Seder plates
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Handmade from speckled stoneware clay, emblazoned with carved Hebrew lettering, and finished with a creamy, glossy glaze, this seder plate perfectly toes the line between traditional and modern.
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We have always been fans of artist Isabel Halley’s striped wine cups and soap dishes, but the simplicity of this elegant pinch-pot Seder plate is what makes it especially appealing for the ritual meal — and the 22-karat gold rims place it securely in the “special occasion” category.
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A glossy modernist take on the Seder plate from Jonathan Adler that we can picture with a contrasting tablecloth andnapkins.
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Helen Levi needs no introduction (you’ve definitely seen her signature speckled mugs before). Lucky for us, she’s selling a Seder plate in a beautiful marbled pink, black, and green.
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SIND Studio makes playful ceramics (think pot holders with faces and ear-shaped jewelry catchers) — but its Seder plate is surprisingly understated and just plain pretty.
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Another simple option is this scalloped-edge plate by ceramicist Yaara Nir Kachlon, which is sure to go with any tablescape. The center dish is engraved with the Hebrew name for Passover: Pesach.
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The MacKenzie-Childs signature is checked tableware, and we love the take here. Each holder features a different graphic pattern in bold black and white. It’s a standout.
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Judaica Standard Time works with designers and artists to make pieces like thisstoneware Seder plate designed in collaboration with Clay LA, the ceramicist behind the tableware of the city’s famed restaurants Gjusta and Gjelina. The earth-toned pinch pots act as holders for each food but can certainly be used throughout the year, too.
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This more unusual take on a Seder plate features six sections with an open middle.
More for your Seder table
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Given that it’s almost Passover, we would be remiss not to include a few additional pieces for your table, including this honestly very chickiddushcup made from borosilicate glass with a subtle striped rim.
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Yes, you can put matzo on any old platter — but this dedicated one makes it extra special. The two halves are separated by a distinct schism that, according to Via Maris, represents the parting of the Red Sea.
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This matzo cover is made of leatherette fabric on top of translucent tulle. It features the Hebrew words for Pesach, matzo, andmarorlaser-cut in repetition throughout.
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This updated version of Judaica Standard Time’s Haggadah is meant for first-timers, people with short attention spans, hungry people, and tables with lots of noisy kids. But it’s no less meaningful for it: The text includes all the Passover traditions as well as thoughtful essays by well-known writers.
Menorahs
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Via Maris’s Trace Chanukiah is made of steel and comes in warm matte shades of pinkish “clay,” deep cobalt blue, and yellow “sand,” among others, that make it feel of a piece with the last few years’ Memphis-inspired décor, while still being versatile enough to work with interiorsminimalistand maximalist alike.
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Another piece from Via Maris (which makes a lot of great Judaica), this menorahcomes apart in two pieces for easier cleaning and to reveal an inner compartment where you can store the 44 candles you’ll need to celebrate eight nights of Hanukkah.
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This striking option comes from Hannah Polskin and is made of resin adorned with brass hardware.
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This minimalist ceramic menorah is made by ANK, which is based in Camden, Maine. As the brand writes, “The piece forces you to ask the question, is this designed for eight fleeting nights? Or can this be displayed as a more permanent fixture in the home?” We think it’s cool enough to leave out all year.
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SIN Swey Menorah
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A menorah with nine disconnected parts is unexpected — and we’re very here for it. Each holder looks like a natural rock (and you could definitely use these as standard candleholders withthin tapersyear-round).
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You may be familiar with artist Julia Elsas’s “Wiggle” wall hooks, but have you seen her ceramic menorahs? This one is an organic-looking zigzag decorated with navy lines. Peep inside the hollow center and you’ll find it’s painted bright yellow.
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Maybe industrial-meets-rustic is your thing: This hefty solid cast-iron menorah will take on a patina with years of use, and as Areaware puts it, has a weight that “gives it a sense of solidity and self-worth, like a trusted tool found on a family farm.”
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For the person who loves delft: a blue-and-white porcelain menorah that has atrompe l’oeileffect thanks to its menorah-painted-on-a-menorah design.
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If you do want something a little more classic, you can’t go wrong with pieces from Michael Aram, a designer well known for his lovely nature-inspired Judaica pieces.
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For the true maximalist: This Olivia Riegel menorah may be low to the table, but it’s made in an ornate pewter cast and adorned with Swarovski crystals, which are sure to bring some sparkle to your eight nights.
Shabbat candlesticks
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Via Maris also makesShabbat candlesand candleholders in the same warm, matte shades as their menorahs — we would pair these in a contrasting color with a menorah to make a charmingweddingorbat mitzvahgift.
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Tree of life, yes, but in a subtle way that doesn’t feel like something purchased from your synagogue’s shop in 1995.
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If color is more your thing, these holders from HAY are understated but come in several lovely shades.
Mezuzahs
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For a real statement, consider a mezuzah by NYC-based designer Susan Alexandra, who is known for her brightly beaded bags and accessories. Indeed, this one looks like it could be jewelry. (And don’t worry: The beads are waterproof and can sustain all temperatures.)
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For a different style, this version is made in the traditional Italian way using murrini pieces suspended in amber glass.
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Apeloig Modern Acrylic Mezuzah
A sleek acrylic mezuzah that’s a bit more playful than its wood and metal predecessors — and it’s available in a range of shades, from terra cotta to turquoise.
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Anotherlovely floral piece from Michael Aram that looks like the kind of thing you might pass down to yourgrandkids.
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A Via Maris mezuzah to complete your set. It’s made of steel and glass, and the screws are hidden so it will blend in subtly with your doorframe.
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