On the second membrane, the decoration of the scroll continues. The upper margin is decorated with a balustrade with a pair of turkeys, roosters, parrots, and hoopoes with their heads turned away; they are interspersed by flower-filled vases. The lower margin is adorned with figurative scenes enclosed in rectangular frames that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther. Rectangular text panels are separated by columns. The second membrane of the scroll includes four text columns (nos. 5-8) and four frames with the narrative scenes (nos. 5-8) which are described separately.
The length of the membranes in the scroll: 1) 495 mm, 2) 460 mm, 3) 460 mm, 4) ca. 500 mm (the final part of the membrane is stitched to the roller).
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- the text panel - ca. 95x120 mm;
- a balustrade - ca. 28-30 mm high;
- a frame with illustrations - ca. 75x30 mm;
- a flower-filled vase - ca. 30x40 mm;
- a segment with a pair of birds - ca. 40x90 mm;
- a column between the text panels - ca. 22x100 mm;
- an average letter: 2 mm (height);
- letters in col. 14: 7 mm (height);
- the letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29): 5 mm (height).
A separate benediction sheet - ca. 310 x ca. 240 mm.
The roller: ca. 450 mm (height).
C | Columns
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
O | Ornamentation: | Cartouche
B | Bird
I | Illustration
|
The scroll (parchment, text, decorations) is preserved in very good condition; only small damage in the upper margin of the opening section is visible.
The upper part of the handle is damaged.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew accompanied by a separate benediction sheet with piyutim.
Scroll: The manuscript is composed of 4 membranes containing 16 text columns with 22 lines each, except for the last column (no. 16) which includes 24 lines, and column no. 14 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The text is copied on the flesh side of the parchment, in black ink, in an Italian square script decorated with elegant tagin.
The handwriting in the last column is denser than in all other text columns; this is partly caused by the correction of the text placed over the erasure.
Missing words are added above the lines of the text.
The parchment is rather thin but quite stiff and very smooth on both sides. The side with the text and decorations is almost white and brighter than the blank side that is more yellow.
The ruling is invisible.
Benediction sheet: It is a separate sheet of thick parchment. It contains initial and final benedictions and the liturgical poem "Arur Haman" that is followed by the heading of another poem קוראי מגילה "Korei Megillah".
Originally, the text panels and the oval fields of cartouches may have been framed in gold.
The shape of the text panels differs from those of other manuscripts decorated with the Griselini border.
The scroll is illustrated with 16 of 20 frames originally designed by the engraver, and it lacks the frames nos. 5, 8, 12, and 20. Additionally, some of the illustrations on sheets 2, 3, and 4 are not printed in chronological order. This suggests that the frames were printed from the small separate metal plates and the printer could decide which of them will be used for printing. Some illustrations bear Arabic numerals.
The Griselini scrolls consist either of four or five sheets with four text panels each.
The decorative scheme resembles the ornamentation of Gaster II scrolls. In the Index, megillot Esther confusingly similar to Griselini scrolls, but not printed by Griselini himself, are called "Griselini-Related scrolls". The decoration of Griselini scrolls also resembles that of the Gaster II scrolls, but without decoration at the beginning and the end (see descriptions of "Griselini-Related" and "Gaster II" scrolls and in the Index).
The scroll was donated by Inna Nahmias in memory of her husband, Élie Nahmias.
Bibliography concerning the manuscript:
A short description in French and English and several photos of the scrolls are available on https://www.mahj.org/en/decouvrir-collections-betsalel/rouleau-d-esther-54801 (accessed on 15.05.2020).
Bibliography concerning Griselini scrolls from various collections:
A Journey through Jewish Worlds: Highlights from the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books, eds. Evelyn M. Cohen, Emile Schrijver, Sharon Mintz, Amsterdam 2009, pp. 242–245 (additionally pp. 126-127 for the Bible of 1739 illustrated with Griselini's engravings).
Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, eds. Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, Evelyn M. Cohen, Sharon Liberman Mintz, Menachem Schmeltzer, Zurich 2011, pp. 264‒265 (additionally pp. 246-247 for the Bible of 1739 illustrated with Griselini's engravings).
Mendel Metzger, The Earliest Engraved Italian Megilloth, Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 1966, 48/2, esp. 406-432.
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 megilot Ester w XVII i XVIII wieku. Zarys problematyki], Warsaw 2019, 1:128–136.
Biography of Griselini in Italian and bibliography available on http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/francesco-griselini_(Dizionario-Biografico)/ (accessed on 11.04.2020).