Sheet no. 5
The twelfth roundel is decorated with birds (mainly parrots), roses, and tulips.
On the right, there is a building and below it, an unidentified scene is depicted. It shows Esther holding a scepter in her hand discussing with Mordecai. Below them, a city - perhaps Shushan - can be seen.
The thirteenth column of text is written within a frame
On the left, a man is holding a tray filled with food and possibly fruits. It shows either sending portions one to another or sending gifts to the poor (Es. 9:22). Above him is a garland and below him, there is a small tree.
G | Garland
F | Flower
C | City
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | *Other topics related to the Megillah: | Shushan (Susa), capital of Persia
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Sending gifts to the poor (Es. 9:22)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Sending portions one to another (Es. 9:22)
B | Bird
P | Parrot
F | Flower | Rose
O | Ornamentation: | Main text framed
|
The manuscript is very well preserved.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 5 sheets, in total containing 13 text panels with 23 or 24 lines of different lengths, except for col. 11 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The number of columns of text per sheet: nos. 1-3 - 2 columns, no. 4 - 3 columns, no. 5 - 4 columns; 9 of them are framed in roundels.
The text is written in Hebrew square Ashkenazi script in brown ink on parchment membranes.
The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are slightly larger than an average letter in the scroll. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 11.
The letters of the name of God are marked with tagin bent to the right.
Col. 10 contains numerous elongated letters.
There are some corrections and erasures in the text.
The ruling is made with a hard point, but it is barely visible.
The pricking on the membranes' edges can be seen.
The membranes of the scroll are glued together.
None
It seems that this scroll and two other scrolls featuring the same style (see "Related objects) were executed by the same artist, although two of them are decorated with roundels, while the third one is decorated with octagons.
It seems that the final part of the manuscript was painted by another artist than the main part of the decorations.
A short description of the scroll and its images are available on https://data.jck.nl/page/aggregation/jhm-museum/M000440 (accessed on 9.08.2021).