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Obj. ID: 37887
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts
  JML Esther Scroll with Wreaths and Floral Decorations, The Netherlands, 18th century (?)

© Jewish Museum in London (JML), Photographer: N/A, -

The scroll is embellished with hand-painted floral decoration. Its opening and final parts are adorned with large wreaths of roses, tulips, daffodils, carnations, sunflowers, and other types of flowers. The same flowers fill the spaces between the text columns; these compositions vary, although they contain the same species of flowers.  

A piece of dusty pink fabric (possibly silk) is sewn underneath a part of the first membrane (it is below the opening decoration and the first two text columns).

The scroll is mounted on a wooden turned roller.

Summary and Remarks

In the scroll, some remains of drawings sketched in pencil can be seen.

After the third membrane, a short piece of parchment is added (310x50 mm) that is filled solely with a flower decoration. Its style and colors are slightly different than the main decoration in the scroll. A few other decorations in the scroll feature the same style and it can be assumed that the decorations were created by two artists.

Seams' marks on the edges of the first membrane are visible; this suggests that originally the fabric covered the entire sheet. 

Remarks

3 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
JML Esther Scroll with Wreaths and Floral Decorations | 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 + wood + silk (?)
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 302 x ca. 6615 mm (+10 mm for the fabric on the right edge of the 1st membrane).
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 800 mm, 2) 650 mm, 3) 620 mm, 4) 50 mm, 5) ca. 640, 6) 650 mm, 7) 725 mm, 8) 570 mm, 9) 570 mm, 10) 640 mm, 11) 700 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- wreaths of flowers: 190-195 mm (diameter);
- decorations between the text columns: 200x38 mm;
- upper margins: 40 mm;
- lower margins: 60 mm;
- an average letter: 6 mm;
- letter ח in Es. 1:6 and letters in col. 24: 12 mm.

The roller: ca. 590 mm (height).
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The manuscript is preserved in very good condition, although the first membrane is slightly damaged and crumpled.

It seems that on some sections of the text, the second layer of ink is applied.

The fabric that is sewn to the right edge of the first membrane and its upper-right corner is torn and is very loosely joined with the sheet. The fabric is dirty and faded.

There are some "patches" underneath the sheets.

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 is composed of 11 sheets containing a total of 28 columns of text with 21 lines each, except for col. 24 with 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

Sheets nos. 1-3, 5-8, and 10 contain 3 columns of the text, sheets nos. 9 and 11 contain 2 columns, and on sheet no. 4 only a floral decoration is painted.

The text is written in Hebrew square Sephardi script with tagin in black ink on the flesh side of the parchment membranes that are rather thin. The side of the text and decorations is brighter and smoother than the other side, although it is still bright.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted by its size (it is larger than other letters in the scroll and bolded) and is decorated with 3 tagin. Similarly, the letter ת (Es. 9:29) is marked. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 24.

There are some erasures and corrections in the text.

The ruling is partly visible: vertical lines are better visible than horizontal lines.

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

No bibliography on the scroll is available.

Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Author of description
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |