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© Museo Sefardí, Photographer: García Merino, Rebeca, , Negative/Photo. No. M002494.
Name/Title
Museo Sefardí Esther Scroll with Decorative Initials | Unknown
Object Detail
decorative initial - upper part
Date
mid-20th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Unknown |
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Period Detail
Collection
Spain | Toledo | Museo Sefardí
| 0096/001
Category
Material/Technique
Ink and paints on parchment + silver
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 179x2370 mm
The case: 535 mm (height), 105 mm (maximum diameter)
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
The manuscript (the text, ornamentation, and parchment) and its case are preserved in perfect condition.
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

The upper part of the initial letter in the scroll is equal to the height of all 9 lines of the text. They are shorter and in this space, a head of the letter is placed that is decorated with a bird.

Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew

Codicology

During the examination of the manuscript, it was not fully unrolled and its final part remained in the case.

The scroll is composed of 3 sheets with 17 (?) columns of the text with 24 lines except for col. 14 with 12 lines and col. 15 with 11 lines divided into two parts.

Sheets nos. 1 and 2 contain 5 columns of the text each and sheet no. 3 contains 6 columns but col. 14 includes fewer lines of the text, so the next column could start from the Haman's sons section.

The text is inscribed in the Hebrew Ashkenazi stam script in intense and shiny black ink on the parchment sheets that are bright and very thick and stiff.

The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is almost the same as the other letters ח in the scroll. Enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 15.

The ruling is invisible; it could be drawn with a pencil and erased.

The membranes in the scroll are stitched.

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 manuscript is not signed, although its hand-drawn decoration reflects the style of Sol Nodel (1912‒1976). He was the American miniaturist and a calligrapher who contributed to the renewal of illumination in the 20th century and was called "one of the world's leading artist-illuminators". He was also a lecturer, art consultant, and violinist.

At least three more scrolls adorned in a similar style are extant (in the Index see ID 36104). 

The scroll is displayed at the permanent exhibition in the Museum.

The case is very high in comparison with the manuscript.

History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

Ana María López Álvarez, Catálogo del Museo Sefardí, Toledo 1986, 97-98.

A short description in Spanish and images are available on http://ceres.mcu.es/pages/Main?inventary=0096/001&museum=69 (accessed on 14.10.2020).

A similar scroll is mentioned in:

Manuel Sánchez Mariana, "Manuscritos ingresados en la Biblioteca Nacional durante los años 1978 y 1979", Revista de archivos, bibliotecas y museos 82/4 (1979), 854.

Francisco Javier del Barco del Barco, Catálogo de manuscritos hebreos de la comunidad de Madrid, vol. 2, Madrid 2003, pp. 22-23, 134 (object 85).

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