New Yorker Dana Hollar Schwartz and designer Jamie Wolfond have launched a collection of candle holders for use during Jewish religious days including an aluminium Chanukiah.
Named after a historical trade route from Damascus to Heliopolis, Via Maris includes a pair of candle holders for Shabbat, two Chanukiahs for Chanukah and a mezuzah decorative case.
The Block Chanukiah comprises three parts
Schwartz, who runs New York PR firm The Hours, initiated the project after struggling to find a contemporary mezuzah, an item traditionally fixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes. After ending up on a deep-dive into Google, she realised there was little options for Jewish objects known as Judaica.
"The vast majority of Judaica that I was seeing was really traditional and impractical, making the objects difficult to connect with," Schwartz told Dezeen The top separates in two so it is easy to clean wax from holes for candles
Having initially decided to create a one-off item for herself, she quickly decided to make the project a bigger venture. Schwartz contacted Canadian Jewish designer Wolfond, who founded the Good Things design brand with previous projects including redesigning everyday items like a dustpan and a torch.
Together they developed the concept that could also be used by people who aren't Jewish and outside of religious traditions.
It also acts as a storage container for 44 candles for Chanukah
"We're really interested in exposing and sharing this culture ...