Home
   Under Reconstruction!
Object Alone

Obj. ID: 39612
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts
  GFC Ornamented Leather Esther Scroll, Morocco, ca. 1875

© Gross Family Collection (GFC), Photographer: Bar Hama, Ardon, -

The leather scroll is decorated with irregularly placed simple ornaments incorporated in the columns of text. The last column of text in the scroll is diamond-shaped and is surrounded by ornaments.

The scroll is mounted on a wooden roller.

Summary and Remarks

According to William Gross: "This is a highly unusual scroll. While there are many Esther Scrolls from Morocco that are made of Gvil parchment, this is the only one recorded that is also painted and decorated. The stave is completely Moroccan in style as well and is rather primitively carved, perhaps indicated the rural origin of both stave and scroll."

Some other decorated megillot written on leather (gvil) are listed as "Related objects".

Remarks

7 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
GFC Ornamented Leather Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
Ca. 1875
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Iconographical Subject
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Ink and paints on leather (gvil) + wood
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 170x2420 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The scroll is preserved in fair condition; there are some serious damages on the upper margins and a part of the membrane above the last column of text is not preserved.

There are some damages in the ornamentation too.

The parchment seems to be very dry.

The sheets are folded between the text columns; this suggests that the scroll could be used for the Megillah reading.

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 consists of 5 (?) membranes containing a total of 15 (?) columns with 19 lines per each, except for the col. 13 which is written in 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The text is inscribed in Hebrew square Oriental script in dense black ink on the hair side of the leather (gvil) membranes.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is elongated but despite this, it does not stand out from the text. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 13.

Col. 12 is very narrow and contains some seriously elongated letters.

Not always the lines in a column of text are of equal length.

The ruling - horizontal and vertical lines - is made with a hardpoint ruled across the width of the membranes.

The pricking can be seen between the columns of text.

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

No bibliography on the scroll is available.

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 |