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© Dagmara Budzioch, Photographer: Budzioch, Dagmara, 5.2015

In two subsequent panels, at the beginning of the first sheet, the benedictions recited before (panel no. 1) and after the Megillah reading (panel no. 2) are inscribed. The latter is followed by the liturgical poem ארור המן "Arur Haman" ("Cursed Haman"). Every benediction opens with an enlarged word ברוך - "blessed" that is written on the right and separated from the rest of the formula. The words of the poem are written in a decorative layout with large spaces between them. The frames are surrounded by cut-out decorations, the same as in the megillah itself. In the upper margin, a bird and a lion can be seen, and on the left, there is a butterfly.

Name/Title
Hechal Shlomo Esther Scroll with a Floral Cut-Out Border | Unknown
Object Detail
benediction panels
Settings
Unknown
Date
Second half of the 18th century
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Italy | Emilia Romagna | Lugo
Italy | Marche | Ancona
| Lugo or Ancona (?)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Ink and paints on parchment
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 70x2500 mm.
The length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 520 mm, 2) ca. 510 mm, 3) ca. 530 mm, 4) ca. 530 mm, 5) ca. 410 mm (the sheets are wavy, herefore, it is difficult to measure them).
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- ornaments in the upper margins - 10 mm;
- ornaments in the lower margins - 12 mm;
- text panel including the frame - 49x75 mm;
- text panels' frames - 2 mm (width);
- opening section with the benedictions: 70x155mm.

An average letter is 2 mm high, whereas enlarged letters in the scroll are 4 mm high and they are the same as the opening words of the benedictions. The inscription after the blessings is written in the letters of 1,5 mm height.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
Due to the technique in which the decorations were executed, the scroll is fragile but still relatively good preserved. The opening undecorated section of the scroll (ca. 45 mm wide) is barely connected with the rest of the manuscript; it is glued with tape. The text is preserved in an almost perfect condition. The state of preservation of the layer of paint varies - in some places, it is damaged or faded and in some others, the colors are still well preserved and vivid. The sheets in the spaces between the text panels are folded.
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew with benedictions recited before and after the Megillah reading and liturgical poem ארור המן "Arur Haman" ("Cursed Haman")

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 5 membranes containing 24 columns of the text with 13 lines, except for col. 20 with 11 lines divided into two parts. The last column is narrowing downwards.

The text is inscribed in the square Hebrew script with Italian and Ashkenazi features, in black ink, on the flesh side of parchment membranes that are of medium thickness and rather stiff. The flesh side of parchment is bright and smooth, whereas the other side is more yellow and shiny.

The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged; the letter ח is additionally highlighted by its form - it is composed of two elements joined with a roof.

In the benedictions, ligatures combining א and ל are included. Tetragrammaton is marked as a composition of two letters י and a shape resembling letter ל.

The ruling is hardly visible; only in the opening section of the scroll and inside col. 20 the lines made with a stylus can be seen. However, possibly, the ruling was made also in the remaining part of the scroll that is suggested by the straight lines of the text.

There are hardly any right and left margins in the text panels.

The membranes are stitched.

Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon

None

Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

For other scrolls decorated with cut-out borders see IDs: 34769 (different style of ornamentation)

For the scroll with similar ornamentation that is painted and not cut-out see ID 34780.

Based on the similarity with the decoration of some decorated ketubbot prepared for the marriages that took place in Lugo or Ancona in the 2nd half of the 18th century, it can be assumed that the scroll was produced in the same region and period. Other examples of megillot with cut-out borders were created in Holland (see IDs).

The size of the scroll (membranes are only 70 mm high) and technique in which the decoration was executed prove the craftsmanship of its maker.

It seems the decoration was colored after the sewing of the sheets.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Formerly (until ca. 1932) belonged to the Berlin collection of Sally Kirschstein. Three numbers (16, 147, and 248) on the blank side of the membrane are visible; possibly they are former catalogue/inventory numbers.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

The scroll is described in:

Die Judaica-Sammlung S. Kirschstein Berlin. Kultgeräte für Haus und Synagoge, Manuskripte, Gemälde, Miniaturen, Graphik, Urkunden, Bücher. Versteigerung in der Galerie Hugo Helbing München (...) [12‒14 Juli 1932]. Ausstellung in der Galerie Hugo Helbing München (...) [8‒11 Juli 1932], München 1932, p. 11, object 196 and plate IX.

Similar scrolls are described in:

Treasures of Jewish Heritage. The Jewish Museum London, eds. Rickie Burman, Jennifer Marin, and Lily Steadman, London 2006, 10, 62-63.

Art and Tradition. Treasures of Jewish Life from the Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum, Beth Tzedec Synagogue, ed. Dorion Liebgott, Toronto 2000, 70-71.

Yehudit Shadur, Joseph Shadur, Traditional Jewish Papercuts. An Inner World of Art and Symbol, Hanover–London 2002, X.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Author of description
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
M001571