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Img. ID: 346194

© Jewish Museum in London (JML), Photographer: N/A, -

Sheet no. 2

The sixth column of text is inscribed within an arch supported by columns with a floral motif. Above them, a floral ornament is drawn with a pen and ink. In the upper margin, between the arches, are two depictions. On the right, a Jew - Mordecai - is kneeling in front of a reading desk on which there is an open book (a prayer book?) with a Hebrew text on it: ויתפלל מרדכי אל ה' בעד ישראל - "Mordecai prayed unto the God for Israel". This quote and his gesture suggest that he is praying and the image alludes to Es. 4:3. On the left, three women are seated at the table and two men are standing next to it. A man holds a drum and all women are depicted with a hair dress a la Fontange. Possibly, it depicts the joy of Jews after the decree allowing them to defend themselves (Es. 8:16-17).

In the column, enlarged letters forming the Tetragrammaton are written.

Name/Title
JML Esther Scroll with Large Decorative Words and Illustrations | Unknown
Object Detail
col. 6
Settings
Unknown
Date
18th century
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 and ivory
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 172 x ca. 1870 mm.
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 750 mm, 2) ca. 745 mm, 3) ca. 375 mm (final part of the sheet is attached to the roller).
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- frames with illustrations: ca. 47x50 mm;
- width of the text columns: between ca. 100 and 150 mm;
- height of the text columns: between ca. 85 and 145 mm;
- an average letter: 2 mm (some letters are 5 mm high);
- letters in col. 10: 6 mm;
- letters in the initial words of the blessings: 12 mm.

The roller: ca. 345 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The first membrane lacks its upper-right corner and it is torn in two places; there is also a yellow stain on it.

On the blank side of a sheet, a piece of silver tape is visible.

The edges of the sheets are dirty.

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 preceded with the initial benedictions for the Megillah reading.

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing a total of 12 columns of text (+ initial column containing benedictions) that are of different shapes and very wide (the columns on the second sheet are similar to each other). 

The number of lines of the text per column varies; the columns contain 12, 17, 20, 24, or 26-29 lines.

Col. 10 contains 12 lines divided into two parts and decorated. The last name of Haman's sons was omitted and it was added on the blank space, between the half-columns; these two words are reversed.

The number of columns of text per membrane: no. 1 - 4 (+ prefatory panel), no. 2 - 5, no. 3 - 3.

The text is inscribed in the Hebrew Ashkenazi stam script with tagin in brown ink on the flesh side of parchment membranes of different thicknesses. Their side of decorations and text is brighter and smoother than the blank side.

The scroll opens with a decorative initial word.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted by its size - it is enlarged, bolded, painted, and decorated with dots; two other letters in the word are executed in the same way too. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged and bolded. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 10.

The text includes large letters פ with a flourish inside.

The letter ע of the last word is decorated.

The letters of the Tetragrammaton are enlarged and bolded. On the second sheet, they can be found four times. 

The ruling is invisible.

The membranes in the scroll are glued together.

The benedictions are copied in a prefatory panel. The words ברוך אתה are inscribed in large hand-drawn and colored letters (they could be originally painted gold) separated from the rest of the formulas. They are written in the square script. Instead of the Tetragrammaton, a ligature is used.

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

A similar scroll is stored in a private collection in Europe.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

No bibliography on the scroll is available.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Author of description
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
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.
M002770