Obj. ID: 37633 VAM Copy of Gaster I Type Esther Scrolls, Italy (?), 18th century (?)
1 image(s)
The length of the sheets: 1) 735 mm, 2) ca. 680 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- opening decoration (without an additional sheet added during the restoration): 65 mm (width);
- decorations in the upper margins: ca. 32 mm;
- decorations in the lower margins: ca. 35 mm;
- floral motif between panels: 88x32 mm;
- endless knot pattern: 30 x ca. 42 mm;
- cartouche: 33x93 mm (typical) or 33x47 mm (smaller);
- text panel: 78x102 mm;
- an average letter: less than 2 mm;
- letters in col. 16: 4 mm;
- space between the columns inside the panels: 2-3 mm.
The roller: ca. 330 mm (height).
The scroll is preserved in poor condition which partly may be caused by the materials of lower quality used for its production.
The opening section of the scroll is damaged and it was restored by a piece of parchment; similarly, underneath the final part of the scroll, a piece of parchment is glued.
The text is preserved better than the decorations.
The sheets are rather dirty.
The hand-painted decoration of the scroll is strongly based on the engraved pattern of Gaster I type scrolls (in the Index see "Gaster I Type scrolls"), although it is a simplified copy of them in which some details are omitted and the drawing is rather sketchy. The opening decoration of the scroll is formed of several schematically drawn leafy twigs with flowers; among them, lions and birds (peacocks?) are placed. The upper and lower margins are filled with repeating endless knot motifs alternating with cartouches each enclosing up to three scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther. The background behind the cartouches and endless knot patterns is unpainted. The double text panels are interspersed by a stylized floral decoration. The same scheme repeats on both membranes forming the manuscript. At the end of the megillah, a floral ornament is placed.
The scroll is mounted on a wooden turned roller.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 2 sheets containing 19 columns of the text (inscribed in 10 panels) with 23 lines, except for col. 16 which has 11 lines divided into two parts.
The first sheet contains 10 columns of text and the second contains 9 columns.
The text is inscribed in Hebrew square Italian script in black ink of different shades, on the flesh side of the parchment membranes that are of medium thickness and rather stiff. The side of the text and decorations is brighter than the blank side that is darker, rather yellow, and dirty.
Tagin are added only to the letters in the first few lines.
The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 16.
There are some elongated letters in the scroll.
The ruling is almost invisible; only some traces of the lines can be discerned.
The sheets in the scroll are stitched together.
None
All details are contoured with black lines, which alludes to the print of Gaster I type scrolls.
The sheets are not even and due to this, it is difficult to measure them.
The inventory number of the scroll on the blank side of its beginning is visible.
The scroll is rolled in a different way than it is customary for megillot - the text and decorations are outside rather than inside.
In the flowers of the floral decorations separating text panels, 7-pointed stars are visible.
Michael E. Keen, Jewish ritual art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1991, object 35, p. 52. Additionally, a fragment of the scroll is reproduced on the catalogue's cover.