Home
Art Alone
© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 1994

The right edge of the first membrane in the scroll is trimmed into a trefoil. This part of the manuscript, as well as the upper and lower margins and the spaces between the text panels, are decorated with foliate and floral ornaments. The upper margins above the first 12 columns of the text are adorned with signs of the Zodiac, framed in cartouches of various shapes, each flanked by a floral motif. The signs of the Zodiac are only sketched and their sequence does not follow the calendar. Additionally, both upper and lower margins are adorned with a few animals and birds. The last two sheets (nos. 5 and 6) containing 4 columns of the text represent different workmanship and it seems they were executed by another maker than the remaining part of the scroll. The upper edges of all the membranes in the scroll are cut into a continuous painted half-circle pattern.

Name/Title
JMP Esther Scroll with Floral Motif and Zodiac | Unknown
Object Detail
Settings
Unknown
Date
late 18th-early 19th century
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Italy
| (?)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Ink, watercolor, gold, and silver 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: 285x3905 mm (according to the Museum's website: http://collections.jewishmuseum.cz - 20.10.2020) or 285x3460 mm (according to Šedinová - see "Bibliography")
An average column of the text: 178x200 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
In general, the manuscript is well preserved (parchment, the text, and decorations). Some parts of the text are faded but it is still legible.
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 6 sheets containing 16 columns of the text with 18 or 19 lines; col. 14 includes 11 lines divided into two parts. 

Membranes nos. 1-5 contain 3 columns of the text each, while membrane no. 6 contains a single column.

The text is inscribed in Italian-Sephardi Hebrew square script in dark brown ink on the flesh side of the bright parchment membranes.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted by its larger size and form (this is the only letter ח containing two elements joined with a roof). The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged. Other large and small letters are included in col. 14.

The ruling was made for every text panel separately and the pricking can be discerned inside every panel.

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

The ornamentation of the scroll is related to some Italian megillot Esther and ketubbot decorated with cut-out borders produced in the 2nd half of the 18th century (see "Related Objects").

It may be assumed that the original membranes nos. 5 and 6 were damaged or lost and then replaced later. The colors of this part of the scroll are brighter, more delicate, and clear. 

Some details in the decoration are painted with gold or silver paint.

The former number of the manuscript: Ms 314.

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
In the collection of the pre-war Jewish Museum in Prague (1906-1940). It belonged to Judaic objects gathered by the Nazis during 1942-1945.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

Jiřina Šedinová, From the Mss. Collections of the State Jewish Museum in Prague. The Scrolls of Esther, "Judaica Bohemiae" 1979, nr 15/2, 84–85.

Olga Sixtova, O svitku / Form of the Scroll [katalog k výstavě konané v Galerii Roberta Guttmanna Židovského muzea v Praze od 22. června do 26. července 2006], Praha 2006, 28-29.

Images of the scroll are available http://collections.jewishmuseum.cz/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/218254 (accessed on 22.10.2020).

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Author of description
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
S071248