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Obj. ID: 37879  JML Amalek Esther Scroll, Iraq, mid-19th century

© Jewish Museum in London (JML), Photographer: N/A, -.

3 image(s)

Name/Title
JML Amalek Esther Scroll | Unknown
Object Detail
Date
mid-19th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Iraq
|
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Unknown |
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Period Detail
Category
Material/Technique
Ink and paints on parchment + wood and stones
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: ca. 75x1555 mm.
The length of the sheets in the sheets: 1) 270 mm, 2) 350 mm, 3) 375 mm, 4) 350, 210 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- text panel: 49x54 mm;
- decorations between the panels: 15 mm;
- margins: ca. 13 mm;
- an average letter (including col. 18): just over 1 mm;
- letters in the margins: 6 mm.

The roller: ca. 180 mm (height).
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Hallmark
Condition

The manuscript is preserved in satisfactory condition, although membranes nos. 1, 3, and 4 are damaged and in many places, the decorations are flaked off.

It can be assumed that a part of the opening decoration is trimmed.

The upper margin of the first sheet is seriously damaged and part of the inscription is missing.

The sheets are dirty and their edges are frayed.

There is a large hole in the place where the last sheet is stitched to the roller.

The roller lacks a part of its lower handle; some stones are missing too.

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 scroll opens with a prefatory panel containing a kind of carpet decoration that is poorly preserved. The Hebrew text of the Book of Esther is written in rectangular text panels surrounded by a hand-painted border. The upper and lower margins of all membranes are adorned with Hebrew inscriptions in large, hand-drawn letters. They are colorless while their background is filled with dense foliate and floral ornaments with trefoils. The letters form complete or fragmentary Biblical quotations mentioning Amalek, an ancient enemy of the Jewish nation, who is believed to be an ancestor of Haman: Ex. 17:13-14, De. 25:17-19, 1Sa. 9:1-2, and 1Sa. 10:24. The spaces between the text panels are filled with similar decoration to this adorning margins.

The scroll is mounted on a wooden turned roller decorated with colorful stones.

Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew + several verses from other biblical books written on the margins

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 5 sheets containing 22 columns of text with 15-17 lines, except for col. 1 with 7 lines and col. 18 with 11 lines divided into two parts.

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

The text is inscribed in the Hebrew square Oriental script, in black ink, on parchment membranes whose both sides are similar and difficult to distinguish on which side the text is inscribed.

The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are slightly larger than other letters in the scroll.

The ruling is slightly visible in some parts of the scroll.

The pricking is invisible.

The membranes in the scroll are stitched together.

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
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

For another scroll decorated with large Hebrew letters in the margins see ID 27379.

History/Provenance

The former number of the manuscript - N22 - in the first panel is written in pencil.

Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

No bibliography on the scroll is available.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Researcher
Dagmara Budzioch | 2021
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconsdivuction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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