Edgar Arendt had this spice box made in the Gurs detention camp as an anniversary gift for his wife Matylda. Arendt was imprisoned in the Gurs camp in the 'artists' barracks' together with musicians, actors and artists who were known as the "Nathan Group". The box was made for him by Baruch Rosenheck, a fellow prisoner. Edgar and his family survived. Baruch Rosenheck was deported to Auschwitz and murdered.
This spice box for use during the Havdalah ceremony at the end of the Sabbath is inscribed with the name of the Gurs detention camp in France and the date, 9 July 1942.
Edgar Arnet (then Arendt-Arnetti) had this spice box made in Gurs as a gift for his wife Matylda on the occasion of their anniversary on 9 July 1942. Arendt was imprisoned in the Gurs camp in 'the artists' barracks' together with musicians, actors and artists who were known as 'The Nathan Group'. The box was made for him by Baruch Rosenheck, a fellow prisoner.
On the bottom of the box is an inscription:
"For my dear and beloved wife, my best and devoted partner Matylda, with love, respect and admiration on our anniversary, Edgar".
Thanks to his connections with the French resistance, Edgar was released from the camp and in December 1942 he managed to escape with his wife and their young daughter to Spain and from there to the United States.
Baruch Rosenheck, the artisan who made the box, was deported to Auschwitz where he was murdered.
Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection
Donated by Edgar Arnet, St. Louis, MI, USA