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Img. ID: 332808

© The Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw (JHI), Photographer: Kwolek, Grzegorz, 09.2017

Cartouche 18: The scene shows a troop of soldiers armed with spears and shields marching in a row. A camp of seven tents stands in the background. Possibly it represents Jews fighting their enemies (Es. 9:5, 15).

Cartouche 19: The cartouche joins two scenes that are difficult to interpret but unquestionably they depict episodes from the fourth chapter of the Book of Esther. On the right, there are four men; one of them reads from a sheet to a man who moves to the left. This can be the moment when Mordecai informs Hatach about Haman's decree (Es. 4:6-8). The other two men standing at the center are guards; one holds a shield and the other has a spear. On the left, Esther talks to two men; possibly one of them is Hatach (Es. 4:10-11). Other interpretations of the episodes are also possible. 

Name/Title
JHI Foa Coat of Arms Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
cols. 18 and 19
Settings
Unknown
Date
18th century (scroll), 18th-19th century (decorations)
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
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 + wood
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: ca. 216 x ca. 4360 mm.
The length of the membranes in the scroll: 1) ca. 600 mm, 2) ca. 650 mm, 3) ca. 645 mm, 4) ca. 645 mm, 5) ca. 640 mm, 6) 535 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- decorations between the text panels: 22 mm (width);
- opening decoration: 192x130 mm;
- final decoration: 205x145 mm;
- upper margins: ca. 20 mm (height);
- lower margins: ca. 30 mm (height);
- cartouches: 29x89 mm;
- cartouche no. 20: 29x65 mm;
- interlaced patterns: 27x73 mm;
- columns of text: 160x133 mm;
- an average letter: 5,5 mm (height);
- letters in col. 22 and the letter ת in Es. 9:29: 8 mm (height);
- spaces between the lines of the text: 4 mm.

The roller: 355 mm (height).
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

In general, the manuscript is preserved in fair condition; in the best condition are illustrations.

The state of preservation of particular membranes is different.

The beginning of the scroll is yellow and very smooth.

The membranes are crumpled in some places and due to this, the text is seriously damaged (especially on the first membrane). Additionally, the sheets are folded in some places.

There are some stains on the membranes.

The text is in poor condition, but it is legible.

The roller lacks its lower finial.

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

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 7 membranes containing a total of 26 columns of the text with 17 lines each, except for col. 22 which includes 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The number of columns per sheet: nos. 1 and 7 - 3 columns, nos. 2-6 - 4 columns.

The text is written in Hebrew square Italian script in brown ink on the flesh side of parchment sheets that are very thick and stiff. The sides of the membranes are different - the side of the text and decorations is brighter and smoother than the blank side that is slightly yellow and less smooth.

Tagin are added to the letters in cols. 1 and 22.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted by its form - it is formed of two parts joined with a roof. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 22.

There are some corrections and erasures in the text; they were done with a different tool and in black ink. Underneath one word in col. 3, a layer of white paint (?) can be discerned.

Col. 21 contains numerous elongated letters.

The ruling - horizontal and vertical lines - is made with a hardpoint; upper and lower lines are marked.

The membranes in the scroll are stitched together.

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

It seems that the illustrations were executed by two artists and some of them seem to be based on the episodes depicted in the scrolls representing Gaster I type (in the Index see "Gaster I type Esther scrolls").

The drawings were sketched in pencil (some remains of sketches are still visible), later the lines in black ink were drawn, and the outlines were colored with paints.

The opening and final decorations imitate engravings.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance

The former numbers of the manuscript are 6713, B-403, and C-254/5.

It is very likely that until around 1932 the scroll belonged to the collection of Sally Kirschstein.

Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

Online collection of the ritual objects from the E. Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute is available here: https://cbj.jhi.pl/documents/603815/0/ (accessed on 12.07.2021).

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, 1:140-148, 2: 63-50.

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, 10–11.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Yaffa Levy; Keren Katsir; Dagmara Budzioch | 1994; 2020
Author of description
Yaffa Levy; Keren Katsir; Dagmara Budzioch | 1994; 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.
M002168