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Obj. ID: 39594
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts
  JHM Esther Scroll with Floral Decoration, Germany (?), 17th/18th centuries

© Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum), Photographer: Unknown, -

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.

Summary and Remarks

A scroll featuring similar ornamentation is stored in a private collection in Europe.

Remarks

3 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
JHM Esther Scroll with Floral Decoration | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
17th/18th centuries
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Germany
| (?)
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
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 260-265 x ca. 2650 mm.
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).
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

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.

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 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.

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

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).

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 |