Obj. ID: 40929 Esther scroll case, Ukraine, circa 1800
sub-set tree:
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Ahasuerus extending his scepter to Esther (Es. 5:2)
S | Shell
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Haman leading the royal steed to Mordecai for his parade (Es. 6:10)
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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.
This beautifully-crafted Esther scroll case is one of only two such cases recorded. The other is in the church museum in the great Lavra in Kiev. The fine repoussé scenes highlighted in gilding mark this as an early object, most probably originating in the 18th century. The scene of the king extending his golden scepter to Esther and the scene with the king’s horse are originally based on 17th-century biblical engravings by Matthaeus Merian. The original top element for the case is missing.