The Kiddush Cup Achieves a Record-breaking Sale at Sotheby’s Latest New York Auction

The earliest known Kiddush Cup, also referred to as “The Cup of Joy,” was recently sold at Sotheby’s auction in New York for an astonishing $4 million, setting a record as the most expensive ceremonial Judaic object ever sold.

Dating back to the 11th or 12th century, the cup originates from eastern Khurasan, a region along the historic Silk Road that encompasses present-day Afghanistan. One of its most striking features is a rare and early combination of Hebrew and Arabic inscriptions, highlighting the cultural and artistic interplay of the time.