Obj. ID: 34783 Hechal Shlomo Leather Esther Scroll with Floral Decoration, unidentified origin, 19th century
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- the opening decoration - 205x105 mm;
- an average text column - 185x150 mm (the columns are not of the same size);
- an average letter: 5 mm (height);
- spaces between the subsequent lines of the text: 3 mm.
The roller: 450 mm (height).
The opening part of the manuscript is rather damaged and it is stained.
The fourth sheet is darker than the rest of the scroll, it can be also dirtier.
There are some holes in the membranes.
The sheets are folded between the text columns; this suggests that the scroll could be used for the Megillah reading.
The benedictions are preserved in worse condition than the text of the Book of Esther.
The scroll is made of light brown leather (gvil) membranes and opens with a symmetrical multifoil decoration in which the benedictions are inscribed. Each corner is decorated with the same composition of three flowers and leaves.
The scroll is mounted on a wooden roller.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew with initial benedictions
The scroll is formed of 6 membranes (+ a short piece of leather that joins the scroll itself with the rod) containing 19 text columns with 19 lines, except for col. 16 with 11 lines divided into two parts.
The text is copied in intense black ink, in the Sephardi square script with tagin, on the hair side of the leather (gvil) membranes that are of a medium thickness and very soft.
The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged. Other enlarged and diminished letters can be found in col. 16.
The ruling is made along the whole length of the membranes; the lines are also visible on the blank side of membranes. In the scroll both - upper and lower - horizontal lines are marked that is rare for Hebrew manuscripts. The spaces between the lines are not the same.
The membranes are stitched together.
None
This manuscript is an exception because leather scrolls are only rarely decorated, especially in color paints; see "Related objects".
The corrections are written on the glued pieces of leather.
To the right edge of the first membrane a narrow leather belt is stitched; it is made of the same leather as the manuscript itself.
The first membrane is trimmed into a semicircle but it lacks a part of it.
No bibliography on the scroll is available.