Obj. ID: 11603
Sacred and Ritual Objects Esther scroll case, Italy
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.
There are few silver Esther Scroll cases known to be from Italy. This case is in one of the few styles used there and has parallel style cases in the Jewish theological seminary in New York as well as in some collections. The repoussé work on the body is quite similar to that on the more commonly found Italian silver prayer book bindings, particularly with regard to the cartouche and the crown above it. The twisted handle is an unusual form for such objects. There is a blank space found on the body for an inscription, but none is present. The scroll is original to the case.