Obj. ID: 11602 Esther scroll case of Shlomo Naftali Pinhas, Salonika(?), 1897
sub-set tree:
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
The Scroll of Esther tells the story of the salvation of the Jews of the Persian Empire. Since the Talmudic period it has been customary to write the Book of Esther on parchment in the form of a scroll, and the rules governing its production and writing are basically the same as those for a traditional Torah scroll. It is not known when and under what circumstances artistic embellishment of Esther scrolls began. The earliest extant illuminated Esther scrolls emanate from 16th-century Italy, commissioned by well-to-do Italian Jews. Cylindrical or polygonal cases were often made to house such scrolls, often provided with a crank handle to roll the parchment through a vertical slot. Cases were made of copper, tin, and wood, but fine silver and some ivory cases have survived as well. Such containers for the scroll were mostly produced in Italy, Austria and the Ottoman Empire.
Fashioned in Ottoman style, with crowns above and below the body, this Esther Scroll case also carries a bird finial at the top. The body is worked in a rather deep repousee technique to form a very pleasing decorative motif. The crank style handle for winding the scroll into the case is also a normal feature of such objects. The pull handle is inscribed with the owners name and the date. The parchment Esther Scroll is original to the case.
Inscriptions
Shlomo Naftali Pinchas, may the Lord protect and sustain him (5)657 [1896/97]