Obj. ID: 37890
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts JML Shlomo ben Yosef Esther Scroll with a Carpet Decoration, Greece, 19th century
The scroll opens with a framed carpet decoration composed of a schematic vase with flowers and plant decoration. The Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is copied in frames and between the columns of the text, different floral motifs and ornaments are painted.
A pull bar of silver is attached to the right edge of the first membrane.
The scroll is housed in a silver case with an engraved floral motif. It bears a Hebrew inscription with the date 5455 [=1694/1695 - see "Summary and Remarks"] and presumably with the name of the owner - Shlomo ben Yosef.
During the research, only the first two membranes were opened and due to this, the scroll cannot be described minutely.
It seems the date engraved in the case was corrected. Possibly originally, instead of "4", there was "6", then the date would be 1894/1895. After the comparison with other scrolls, this date seems more probable than 1694/1695.
3 image(s)
sub-set tree:
The total length of the manuscript is unknown. Only the first two membranes were measured; they are 620 mm and 590 mm long.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- opening decoration: 87x83 mm;
- frames of the panels: 3 mm;
- the highest letter: 3 mm (not all letters in the scroll are of the same size).
The case: ca. 275 mm (total height).
The beginning of the scroll is poorly preserved and it lacks a part of the frame on the right side.
The text and decorations are preserved in good condition.
Some parts of the sheets on the blank side are dirty.
The seams connecting the second and third sheets and the beginning of the third sheet are damaged.
The case lacks a decoration that was originally attached to its top.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The first and second sheets contain 4 columns of the text with 19 lines each.
The text is inscribed in Hebrew square script with tagin in black ink, on the flesh side of parchment membranes that are bright, thick, and stiff. The blank side of the sheets is yellower than the side of the text and decorations.
The letter ח (Es. 1:6) may be slightly higher than an average letter in the scroll.
The ruling - horizontal and vertical lines - is made with a hard point along with the sheets. It is well visible on the blank side of the sheets.
The pricking before the first text panel is visible.
The membranes in the scroll are stitched together.
None
The former number of the manuscript - N30 - in the lower margin, below the opening decoration, is written in pencil. It appears also on the blank side of the first membrane.
No bibliography on the scroll is available.