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Obj. ID: 23622
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts
  Hand-Painted Copy of Esther Scroll with Portrait Medallions, Austria, late 19th century

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Unknown, Unknown

A hand-made colorful and simplified copy of a popular type of printed megillot decorated with medallions containing the busts of the Esther story protagonists that were produced in Amsterdam at the beginning of the 18th century (in the Index see Esther scrolls "Portrait Medallions"). The original decoration is replaced by two twigs placed parallelly to the right edge of the first sheet. The upper margins are divided into sections equal to the text panels placed below them and each of them contains a roundel with a bust flanked by two twigs except for the first and last panels; in the first, the royal couple is depicted and the last is blank. The text panels are interspersed by narrow vertical panels decorated with different ornaments. The lower margins are filled with figurative scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther and Midrashic tales. An additional illustration is included in column no. 19. Not all the episodes are depicted in the scroll in chronological order. All frames of the panels with busts and narrative scenes are painted gold. In the last panel, the benediction after the Megillah reading and the shortened version of ארור המן Arur Haman are inscribed. The scroll ends with decoration similar to the one at its beginning. 

To the right edge of the first membrane, a pull bar of wood is stitched. The scroll is mounted on steam with ivory handle and finial that is 390 mm high. 

Summary and Remarks

In the institutional and private collections, other scrolls decorated with a similar pattern are stored.

Remarks

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Name/Title
Hand-Painted Copy of Esther Scroll with Portrait Medallions | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
late 19th century
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Austria
| (?)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
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
Height
177 mm
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
The manuscript (parchment, decoration, text, and rod) is preserved in very good condition.
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
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Book of Esther in Hebrew with initial and final benedictions and a shortened version of ארור המן Arur Haman
Codicology

The scroll consists of 3 membranes containing 22 text columns with 22 lines, except for col. 19 with 11 lines divided into two parts.

Every letter ל in the words המלך occurring in the first lines of the text columns is decorated with elaborate tagim.

The text includes an enlarged ח (Es. 1:6) that is formed of two parts joined with a roof and its legs end with serifs. In the text, the enlarged letter ת (Es. 9:29) is included too. In addition, traditional enlarged and diminished letters are in col. 19; they are also decorated with elaborated tagim and in the case of two of the letters, additional strokes are drawn below them.

In the first text panel are inscribed all three benedictions preceded by an adequate Hebrew headline ברכות מגלה. Whereas the last panel contains the final benediction followed by a shortened version of ארור המן Arur Haman.

In general, the ruling is slightly visible.

The parchment is bright; both sides of the sheets are very similar so it is difficult to distinguish between the flesh and hair side of a sheet.

The membranes are glued which was relatively rare for Esther scrolls.

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
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Formerly ES1 in the Gross Family Collection.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
Tova Szeintuch; Dagmara Budzioch | 15/1/2017; 2020
Author of description
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |