Obj. ID: 58
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts JHI Blue-Red Esther Scroll, Ancona (?), second half of the 18th century
The scroll opens with a benediction sheet framed by the same ornamentation as the megillah itself. The text panels along all the membranes are framed by stenciled repeating decorations. They are composed of "white" (in reality it is the color of the parchment) pairs of stylized birds and floral motifs (only some elements of them are painted in blue, red, or gold), and gold palmettes. The background of the sections is alternately painted in red or blue. The scroll ends with a decorative cartouche with a coat of arms with a double-headed eagle. Another family emblem in a decorative cartouche is partly preserved on the right edge of the first membrane; probably it is a rampant lion turned to the left, with a palm (?) branch or a lulav in its forelegs.
The scroll is mounted on a wooden roller.
10 image(s)
sub-set tree:
| C-330 (formerly 6012)
The Book of Esther in Hebrew preceded by the benedictions recited before and after the megillah reading, followed by a liturgical poem for Purim קוראי מגלה ("Korei megillah")
The scroll consists of 8 membranes with 24 columns (3 columns per each membrane). 15 lines per column, except for the benedictions that are inscribed in 16 lines.
The column text space is (152-153) x (169-177) mm, except for col. 1 that is 147 x 171 mm and col. 3: 151 X 172 mm. The column with the section listing the names of Haman's sons: 153 x 177 mm. The text with decoration is 99-107 mm heigh.
Written on the flesh side in a square Italian script in dark brown ink. The piyyut is written in 8 lines in a smaller script and the names of Haman's sons are written in 11 lines in a larger script.
Ruling by a stylus on the flesh side; includes 15 horizontal and 1+1 vertical lines per column that are barely visible. Pricking is not discernible.
The scroll is mounted on a wooden roller. The upper part of the handle is partly broken. The sheets are sewn together by a leather thread.
Online collection of the ritual objects from the E. Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute is available on http://cbj.jhi.pl/collections/964689
The ornamentation of the scroll shows a close relationship with several other decorated scrolls and ketubbot; see e.g. the scroll 36, Klau Library, Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. On the basis of the latter, the manuscripts can be dated to the 2nd half of the 18th century and connected with artists active in Ancona and/or Lugo.
For a related scroll in the Index see ID 37889.
Dagmara Budzioch, The Decorated Esther Scrolls from the Museum of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw and the Tradition of Megillot Esther Decoration in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries – An Outline [Polish: Dekorowane zwoje Estery z Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego w Warszawie na tle tradycji dekorowania megillot Ester w XVII i XVIII wieku. Zarys problematyki], Warsaw 2019, 1:135, 2:11-16.