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Obj. ID: 23766
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts
  JHM Enthroned King Esther Scroll, Germany (?), 18th century

© Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum), Photographer: Unknown, -

The scroll opens with a large panel flanked by floral motifs that shows an enthroned king that is. The king's costume represents the 18th-century fashion of Western Europe, but apparently, this is a depiction of King Ahasuerus. The Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is written in rectangular columns that are separated by narrow panels topped with a stylized crown and filled with ornamental or floral designs. Between the ninth and tenth columns of text, another depiction based on the Esther story is painted - the hanging of Haman and his ten sons (Es. 7:10 and Es. 9:14 or Es. 9:25). The text opens with an enlarged and colored word ויהי written in the colorful frame. Some other colorful letters (including these spelling out the name of God) and words (mainly they are words המלך appearing at the head of the columns of text) are incorporated in the text. Also, the section in the ninth column listing the names of Haman's sons is written in colorful letters. 

Summary and Remarks

In two places - on the first and second membranes - corrections can be seen. In both cases, a small piece of parchment was cut out and the proper words were written on small pieces of parchment that are glued underneath the membranes.

The ink in the scroll is still a bit shiny.

Remarks

4 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
JHM Enthroned King Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
18th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
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
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Ink and paints 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: ca. 250x2545 mm.
The length of the membranes in the scroll: 1) 705 mm, 2) 710 mm, 3) 615 mm, 4) 515 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- opening decoration: 250x125 mm;
- columns of text are of different width, e.g. 140, 150, and 205 mm;
- an average letter: 4 mm;
- spaces between the lines: 3 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The manuscript is well preserved and only slight damages are visible in it.

The details painted in green are preserved in worse condition.

The membranes are slightly 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
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew

Codicology

The scroll consists of 4 membranes containing a total of 11 columns with 29 lines per each, except for the col. 9 which is written in 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The first three membranes contain 3 columns of text, and the fourth membrane contains 2 columns.

The text is inscribed in Hebrew square Ashkenazi stam script with tagin, in dense black ink on the flesh side of parchment membranes that are very thick and stiff, rather bright and a bit suede.

The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged, bolded, and colored; the letter ח is additionally decorated with scrolled feet. In the same way, the letters of the Tetragrammaton are highlighted. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 9.

The text contains some seriously elongated letters.

There are numerous and large corrections in the scroll (e.g. in col. 10). 

The ruling - horizontal and vertical lines - is made with a hardpoint ruled across the width of the membranes.

The pricking is visible on the opening edge of the scroll.

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
Colophon

None

Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources

A short description and images are available on https://data.jck.nl/page/aggregation/jhm-museum/M000417 (accessed on 15.07.2021).

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
|
Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |