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© Copyright of the University of Manchester, Photographer: N/A, 2016, Negative/Photo. No. M002459.
Name/Title
JRL Gaster II Type Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
cols. 1-3
Date
Second half of the 17th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Italy | Veneto | Venice
| (?)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Unknown |
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Gaster II scrolls|
{"210":"The family of Italian Esther scrolls from the second half of the 17th century named by Mendel Metzger after Judaica collector, Moses Gaster (1856–1939), of whose collections an exemplar of this manuscript formed a part (see M. Metzger, “The Earliest Engraved Italian Megilloth”, Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 48:2 (1966), 381\u2012432, esp. 390). It includes Esther scrolls produced in mixed technique in which decorative border is partly printed and colored by hand while the Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is inscribed by a scribe. Main part of the decorations consists of a series of arcades, under which the text of the Book of Esther was inscribed. The text panels are interspersed by columns whose bases are decorated with flowers that separate rectangular frames with figurative scenes chronicling the Book of Esther. Upper margins are filled with a balustrade on which are placed flower-filled vases and pairs of roosters and turkeys. These details are present in all exemplars of the scrolls, however, particular manuscripts differ in detail. The decorative scheme of Gaster II scrolls shows common features with Griselini scrolls."}
Period
Period Detail
Category
Material/Technique
Ink and paints on parchment (partly printed decoration, handwritten text)
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 275 x ca. 2520 mm.
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 610 mm, 2) 690 mm, 3) 465 mm, 4) 755 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- an average frame: 30x85 mm;
- the balustrade: ca. 20 mm;
- an average letter: 2 mm (height);
- spaces between the lines: 2 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The manuscript is preserved in fair condition; it lacks its opening part and some damages are visible.

There are some damages in the final part of the scroll too and losses in the sheets' edges.

The text is damaged, a substantial part of it is erased, seriously faded, or restored with a second layer of ink.

The illustrations are well preserved.

Blue paint is faded.

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
Description

Sheet no. 1

The decorative scheme surrounding cols. 1-3 contains arcades that support a balustrade located in the upper margin with pairs of turkeys and roosters flanking the cartouches above each arch. Flower-filled vases atop each column separate these decorative illuminations. The lower margin is filled with figurative scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther:

Frame 1 shows the banquet given by Ahasuerus. In the center of the palace gardens, King Ahasuerus sits on the throne under a high canopy at a round table laid with a feast. He is flanked by three men on the right and four men on the left who can be his courtiers (Es. 1:3-8, Es. 1:10). Around the edges of the garden, there are arcaded buildings in which two groups of people sit at tables.

Frame 2 depicts Queen Vashti's feast in the royal gardens (Es. 1:9). Vashti sits under a high canopy at a large round table ready for a feast. Six women accompany her at the table, three on each side. To the right, a group of servants enter the garden through a gate; the first of them appears to be addressing the queen. This most likely represents the servants informing Vashti of King Ahaseurus's order for her to appear before him and his guests at his feast (Es. 1:10-11). The additional scene on the left may depict the moment when Queen Vashti, after her refusal to appear at Ahaseurus's feast, is taken from the palace (alluding to Es. 1:19).

Frame 3: on the right, Ahasuerus sits on his throne, accompanied by the seven princes of Persia and Media (Es. 1:14). He holds a scepter in his left hand and his other hand points to a man, most likely Memucan, who stands before him. Six other men stand behind Memucan (?) and there is a soldier behind the king's throne. The scene illustrates the moment when the king asks his advisers for advice regarding the fate of Vashti (Es. 1:13-20). On the left, two royal messengers ride on horseback towards a city in the background (Es. 1:21-23).

Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew with the initial and final benedictions for the Megillah reading.

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 4 membranes containing in total 19 columns of text with 23 lines each, except for col. 16 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The number of text columns per sheet: no. 1 - 4, no. 2 - 6, no. 3 - 4, no. 4 - 5.

The text is inscribed in Hebrew square Italian script in brown ink of different hues, on the flesh side of parchment membranes. Some parts of the text are copied in black ink, but this may be a second layer applied later.

The sheets are made of very thick and stiff parchment. Their blank side is rather dark and rough.  

The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are highlighted by their size. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 16.

The ruling - made with a hard point - is barely visible.

The membranes in the scroll are stitched together.

The benedictions: the initial benedictions are inscribed in the cartouche that is a central part of the opening decoration. The first six words of the blessings are abbreviated.

The final benediction and the poem for Purim are written at the end of the scroll; they are integrated into the outermost part of the decoration. The layout of the text is totally irregular.

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
Signature
Colophon

None

Scribal Notes
Watermark
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

The name "Gaster II" was introduced by Mendel Metzger in his article "The Earliest Engraved Italian Megilloth" (see "Bibliography"). The type was named after Moses Gaster (1856–1939), the rabbi, scholar, and Judaica collector whose collections included a scroll adorned with this pattern (at present this is the scroll Gaster Hebrew MS 711 stored in the John Rylands Library in Manchester - the manuscript described here). At least 8 manuscripts representing this type are known; they are preserved in private and institutional collections. For their descriptions see "Related objects".

The decorative scheme of Gaster II scrolls shows common features with the Griselini and Griselini-Related scrolls (see "Griselini scrolls" and "Griselini-Related scrolls" in the Index), whereas the narrative scenes are the same as in the scrolls representing the Klagsbald type (see in the Index). The exception is frame no. 19 that in Gaster II scrolls joins the illustrations no. 19 and 20 from Klagsbald scrolls.

The general layout of the decoration is the same in all exemplars of Gaster II scrolls, however, particular manuscripts differ in detail; especially their opening decorations vary.

In the manuscript, some details are painted in white, an exception for the scrolls representing this group.  

Originally, some details (e.g. flowers on the columns' bases) possibly were painted in gold but at present only green shade is visible.

Around some illustrations, blots of ink are visible.

History/Provenance

The scroll belonged to Moses Gaster's (1856–1939) collection. In his hand-written catalogue, it is listed under no. 711. At the beginning of the scroll, in its upper margin, there is an inscription in black ink: "711 M. Gaster".

Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

The manuscript is described in:

Mendel Metzger, "The Earliest Engraved Italian Megilloth", Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, 48:2 (1966), 381‒432.

Its images (nos. JRL16041358-JRL16041368) are available on https://luna.manchester.ac.uk (accessed on 28.10.2020).

The scrolls representing the same or similar pattern are discussed in:

F. J. Hoogewoud, "Louis Hirschel, List of Unique and Rare Items from the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana," Studia Rosenthaliana, 38/39 (2005/2006), 73-99.

Hebrew and Judaic manuscripts in Amsterdam public collections Catalogue of the manuscripts of the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, University Library of Amsterdam eds. L. Fuks and R. G. Fuks-Mansfeld, Leiden 1973.

Dagmara Budzioch, The Decorated Esther Scrolls from the Museum of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw and the Tradition of Megillot Esther Decoration in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries – An Outline [Polish: Dekorowane zwoje Estery z Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego w Warszawie na tle tradycji dekorowania megilot Ester w XVII i XVIII wieku. Zarys problematyki], Warsaw 2019, 1:124-134, 322.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Researcher
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
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