Obj. ID: 35197
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts GFC Folk Esther Scroll with Roundels, Germany, first half of the 18th century
The scroll is decorated in a folk style. Along with the upper and lower margins, there are decorative belts filled with foliate and floral ornaments in which birds are woven. The Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is inscribed within the roundels, except for the eighth column that is not framed; such layout was rarely employed in megillot Esther. Around majority of the text panels, four illustrations chronicling the Book of Esther narrative and/or figures of heroes of the Purim story are painted. All of them are labeled in Hebrew in the same handwriting as the text of the Megillah is copied.
The third membrane is different from the two first membranes in the scroll; it is more suede and yellower than them and its quality influenced the text and decorations.
5 image(s)
sub-set tree:
The opening part is very dark and the decorations on it are damaged.
Some parts of the text are erased.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing in total 9 columns of text (8 of them is written in roundels) with 28, 30, or 31 lines each, except for col. 8 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The number of columns of text per sheet: no. 1 - 4 columns, no. 2 - 3 columns, no. 3 - 2 columns.
The text is written in Hebrew square Ashkenazi script with tagin in dark brown and brown ink on parchment membranes.
The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged and bolded. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 8.
The letters of the name of God are marked with tagin bent to the right.
Several letters in the scroll are decorated with tiny swirls.
The ruling is almost invisible; only in a few places, its traces can be discerned.
The pricking on the membranes' edges can be seen; it is visible either on the side of the text and decorations or on the blank side of the parchments.
The membranes of the scroll are glued together.
None
The fragments of the scroll are reproduced in some publications, but no comprehensive discussion on it is available.