Img. ID: 327624
The scroll opens with a family emblem composed of a rampant lion turned right that seems to support a triple ear of grain; they are shown against a blue background. It is enclosed in a Baroque cartouche topped with a crown and decorated with a ribbon and garlands in its lower part. The same family emblem is also engraved on a silver case in which the scroll is stored.
A lion was one of the most popular symbols in the Jewish heraldry and this makes it difficult to determine which family emblem is represented in the manuscript. According to Elvio Giuditta (see "Bibliography") similarly composed are the coat of arms of Abraham, Altaras, Askenazi, and Teglio families.
| inv. 97.03.009
The first membrane is at least 760 mm long.
The opening decoration covers the square of ca. 85x85 mm.
F | Family emblem
L | Lion | Lion rampant
E | Ear (botany) | Ear of grain
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The number of membranes and text panels is unknown (during the research, the scroll remained rolled in the case, therefore, only its opening part could be studied; the details are also omitted in the description available on the Museum's website).
In the first panel, all three initial benedictions are inscribed. The opening word of the first blessing (ברוך - "blessed") is larger than any other letter in this section. The letters in this word are 8 mm high; they are bolded, their vertical components are decorated with dots and serifs. Originally they were painted gold but currently, they are green.
The Tetragrammaton is inscribed as two letters י combined with a flag of ל and a leg of א; two short lines are added above them.
The first 9 regular text panels contain 13 lines of the text that is written in the Hebrew Italian square script in black ink that in some places is faded. Tagim were added only to several letters (ש, ש, ח, י, י, ב) in the first line of the scrolls.
An average letter is 3 mm high, whereas the letters in the opening word of the Megillah (ויהי - "it happened") is 5 mm high; it is bolded and decorated with dots and serifs.
The letter ח in Es. 1:6 is not highlighted in any way.
The scroll is stored in a silver case and a silver pull bar is stitched to the right edge of the first membrane.
During the research conducted in 2015, only a part of the first membrane was examined, therefore the total length of the manuscript remains unknown and the details such as the presence of final decoration, the fourth benediction, liturgical poems, and colophon or scribal note could not be verified.
On the green frames enclosing the text columns, a very thin layer of gold paint is visible.
The scroll is displayed on the permanent exhibition of the Museum.
For another scroll containing a family emblem see ID 58 in the Index.
The Michael M. Zagayski Collection of Rare Judaica [Public Auction Wednesday and Thursday, March 18 and 19], 1964, Parke-Bernet Galleries New York, object no. 60.
Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia, n.p. n.d., esp. pp. 17, 91, 21, 97.
Rouleau d'Esther et son étui, Italie, Rome, 18e siècle available on https://www.mahj.org/en/decouvrir-collections-betsalel/rouleau-d-esther-et-son-etui-60395 (accessed on 16.04.2020)