A photograph of a Purim plate that was designed in Bamberg, Germany in the nineteenth century.
The plate is made of metal and is decorated with engravings. In the centre is a picture of a king, presumably King Ahasuerus from the story of Purim. To his left is another character with a crown, probably Queen Esther, and to the right a figure holding a parasol who is probably a servant.
Around the picture is an apparent misquotation from Megillat Esther:
"ויבוא המלכה על המלך, ויאמר לה, מה לך אסתר"
Translation: "The Queen came to the King, and he said to her, 'What is your wish, Esther?'"
This plate was intended for mishloach manot (or shalach manos). According to Megillat Esther, at Purim Jews should send gifts consisting of two different types of foods to friends and family. In some European communities, such as Germany, it was customary to give these mishloach manot on plates decorated with motifs from the festival.
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Purim - Purim is celebrated on the 14 Adar as the day the Jewish people were saved from destruction during the fourth century BCE. The heroine of the Purim story, Queen Esther, worked together with her uncle, Mordechai, to reverse the decree of genocide issued against the Jewish people by Haman, the vizier of Persia. It is the tradition on Purim to dress up in costumes, distribute small food packages known as mishloach manot, give charity, and listen to the reading of the Megilla – the Book of Esther.
