Obj. ID: 40982
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Esther scroll case, Izmir (Smyrna), 1873

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The Scroll of Esther tells the story of the salvation of the Jews of the Persian Empire. Since the Talmudic period it has been customary to write the Book of Esther on parchment in the form of a scroll, and the rules governing its production and writing are basically the same as those for a traditional Torah scroll. It is not known when and under what circumstances artistic embellishment of Esther scrolls began. The earliest extant illuminated Esther scrolls emanate from 16th-century Italy, commissioned by well-to-do Italian Jews. Cylindrical or polygonal cases were often made to house such scrolls, often provided with a crank handle to roll the parchment through a vertical slot. Cases were made of copper, tin, and wood, but fine silver and some ivory cases have survived as well. Such containers for the scroll were mostly produced in Italy, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire.

While the exhibit on the Jews of the Ottoman Empire was being prepared at the Israel Museum for over ten years, the researchers heard from families that in Izmir a few of the most wealthy families possessed Esther Scroll cases of pure gold. This is one of those and is of the utmost rarity. There is only one other such case recorded, in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The gold is 22 carat, the finest standard for gold objects from the Ottoman Empire. The filigree is of the utmost delicacy and the traditional three crowns on top are finished with a small finial with a pearl. It is known that filigree of such delicacy was generally produced by the Armenian goldsmiths in Izmir. The text of this Esther scroll is of exceptional quality and delicacy as well, as is the separate decorated blessings sheet for the prayers said before and after the reading of the scroll.

Purim was a very cherished occasion for the Jews of the Ottoman Empire. It was the custom from the bride's family to give a scroll and case to a prospective bridegroom upon the engagement, as recorded on the decorated blessing sheet. Clearly, this was a gift from a very wealthy family.

Inscriptions

The blessings sheet:

Top:

The scroll book is a gift given to the nice and pleasant bridegroom, the engaged gentleman, the honorable Rabbi Senior David Leon, may the Lord sustain and protect him, the son of the gentleman Senior Yitzhak, may the merciful one protect him and bless him, may his name live forever, amen

Bottom center:

I will give the year of (chronogram of Devarim 25:8) (5)633 [=1872/3], according to the minor reckoning