Obj. ID: 39594
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts JHM Esther Scroll with Floral Decoration, Germany (?), 17th/18th centuries
The scroll opens and closes with a symmetrical foliate and floral ornament with a pomegranate in its center; the decorations are placed at the right angle to the lines of the text. The upper margins in the scroll are adorned with floral decorations that flank "pyramids". The lower margins are decorated with various floral motifs. Urns with long, flowered stalks fill the spaces between the text columns. Besides them, at the end of every membrane, a geometrical pattern is placed. It was achieved through an unusual method of joining the subsequent membranes - their edges are cut and interwoven with each other and painted with three colors. Additionally, the fourteenth column containing a section listing the names of Haman's sons (Es. 9:6–10) is surrounded and filled with an elaborate foliate and floral ornaments.
The scroll is mounted on a wooden rod lacking its finials.
A scroll featuring similar ornamentation is stored in a private collection in Europe.
sub-set tree:
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments
F | Flower
A | Acorn
P | Pomegranate
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
A | Abstract | Abstract geometric
|
Lenght of the membranes in the scroll: 1) 680 mm, 2) 605 mm, 3) 480 mm, 4) 585 mm, 5) ca. 300 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- margins: ca. 25 mm;
- text column: 120 mm (width);
- spaces between the columns: 30-35 mm;
- an average letter: 3 mm;
- spaces between the lines of the text: 7 mm.
The rod: 295 mm (height).
The manuscript is preserved in fair condition. Its beginning is seriously damaged and the parchments are crumpled which influenced the state of reservation of the text and decorations; the fourth is preserved in the best condition.
Underneath a part of the first sheet, a piece of purple (?) fabric was stitched. Currently, only its minimal remains can be noticed.
The roller lacks its finials.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 5 sheets containing a total of 17 columns of the text of 21 lines each, except for col. 14 which includes 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The number of columns of text per membrane: nos. 1 and 2 - 4, no. 3 - 3, no. 4 - 4, no. 5 - 2.
The text is written in Hebrew square Ashkenazi script with tagin, in brown ink on the flesh side of the parchment membranes that are of medium thickness, rather bright and suede. The blank side of the membranes is darker than the side of the text and decorations.
In the text, two types of tagin can be noticed.
The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is enlarged, bolded, and decorated with 6 tagin and scrolled feet. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged and bolded. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 14.
The ruling is barely visible; the vertical lines are more visible than horizontal ones.
The pricking is visible at the ends of the membranes.
The membranes in the scroll are joined in an unusual manner - the edges of the subsequent membranes are cut and interwoven with each other. Thanks to it, a kind of geometrical pattern was received.
None
A short description of the scroll and images are available on https://data.jck.nl/page/aggregation/jhm-museum/M000437 (accessed on 29.06.2021).