"This 1995 etrog box is the first of a series of objects I designed for Jewish religious use. The design goal was the creation of objects that would not employ the visual language of the past, but would the result of objective analyses of the purposes of the objects. The ceremonial and emotional values were taken into consideration as much as the various functions. This approach is very much the same as my approach to any consumer products I design. This philosophy resulted in new forms and even some reinterpretations of Jewish habits and customs

"I designed the etrog box to be carried to the synagogue by a synthetic string. This string is an essential part of the design; beside the carrying function, it holds the two (nearly) identical parts together. The form of the box follows the shape of the etrog fruit itself.

"The box is felt lined to protect the fruit and the form of the box protects the precious tip of the etrog. By turning the two halves ninety degrees a much more surprising form is created, without changing the function. I chose to use silver for its durability, since these objects may very well remain in families for generations to come."

Piet Cohen, 2000

This etrog container displays the artist's sleek, streamlined solution to a traditional form. Cohen's elegant minimalism allows only one embellishment, a quote from Leviticus 23:40 which reads: "and ye shall take ...the fruit of godly trees..."