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Img. ID: 355978

© British Library, Photographer: N/A, -

Text columns nos. 4-10 are written within the printed decorations. Columns nos. 4-6 are written on the first sheet and columns nos. 7-10 are written on the second sheet.

Name/Title
BL Shalom Italia Engraved Esther Scroll with Ladies | Unknown
Object Detail
cols. 4-10
Settings
Unknown
Date
1640s
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
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 on parchment (printed border, handwritten text) + wood
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 130x2690 mm.

The rod: 155 mm (height).
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The manuscript is preserved in good condition, although some parts of the border are poorly printed and on the first membrane, they are supplemented by hand-drawings in brown ink, possibly the same that was used for writing the text.

There are some orange stains on the membranes.

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 5 sheets, in total containing 31 columns of text with 18 lines each, except for col. 26 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The number of text columns per sheet: no. 1 - 6 columns, nos. 2-4 - 8 columns, no. 5 - 1 column.

The text is written in Hebrew square script with tagin in dark brown ink on parchment membranes.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is very wide and highlighted by its shape as it is formed of two elements joined with a roof. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 26.

In cols. 25 and 30 are numerous elongated letters.

The ruling is made with a hard point; it is well visible in col. 26.

The pricking is invisible.

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
The signature of the engraver is incorporated in the opening decoration: "Salom. Italia sculpsit."
Colophon

None

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

There are several scrolls sharing the same pattern and others adorned with different borders designed by the same artist (see "Related objects").

On the right edge, numerous tiny holes are visible; it seems a piece of fabric was stitched underneath the opening section of the scroll.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance

In the upper cartouche of the opening decoration, there are remains of a Hebrew inscription:

מתנה מאת... יוסף בהר אליעזר משה פראר

In the lower cartouche of the opening decoration, there is a Hebrew inscription of the owner, Benjamin Zev ben Juda Shtockfish (?):

זה מגילה שייך להק' (?) בנימין זאב בר''ה יהודה שטאקפיש

This inscription appears in the place where the name of the original owner was written, but it has been erased.

Below the opening decoration, the date according to the Hebrew calendar is written - [5]629:

ונכתב בהספר ק

Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

The scroll is described in:

George Margoliouth, Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the British Museum, 4 vols (London: British Museum, 1899-1935; vols I-III repr. 1965); IV, Introduction, Indexes, ed. by Jacob Leveen (London: British Museum, 1977), no. 43.

Images of the scroll are available on http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_4786 (accessed on 2.09.2021).

Bibliography concerning the scrolls designed by Shalom Italia or attributed to him:

Sharon Assaf, Emily D. Bilski, Salom Italia's Esther Scrolls and the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam 2011.

A Journey through Jewish Worlds: Highlights from the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books, eds. E.M. Cohen, E. Schrijver, S. Liberman Mintz, Amsterdam 2009, 228-231 (describes another scroll designed by Shalom Italia).

Michael Garel, An Esther Scroll by Shalom Italia, "The Israel Museum Journal" 5 (Spring 1986), 107–108.

Mordecai Narkiss, Yeẓurato shel Shalom ben rabbi Mordechai Italia (1619–1655?) [The Oeuvre of the Jewish Engraver Salom Italia (1619–1655?)], "Tarbiz" 25(4), 1956, 441–451, and: ibidem no. 26(1), 1957, 87–101.

Shalom Sabar, A New Discovery: The Earliest Illustrated Esther Scroll by Shalom Italia, „Ars Judaica” 2012, no. 8, 119–136.

Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, eds. Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, Evelyn M. Cohen, Sharon Liberman Mintz, Menahem Schmeltzer, Zurich 2011, 274‒279.

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.
M003575