The donor of this bag descended from Jacob Levi, a Jewish banker who lived in Venice during the eighteenth century. The central emblem of a pouring laver and basin is the sign of the Levites, the servitors in the ancient Temple, who still wash the hands of Kohanim (descendants of the priests) before their blessing of the congregation. The laver and basin therefore symbolize the family name, Levi, and was used as a coat of arms.