Miniature Scroll of Esther with a nice, colored opening illustration and expert scribal script. Along with an especially nice, unique silver case. Ottoman empire 19-20th century
Description of the Scroll: [9] sewn parchment strips, the parchment is 63 mm. wide. The inclusive length of the strips is about 200 cm. The megilla is written in an especially nice Velish script. 14 lines. The megilla opens with a colored illustration of leaves and flowers within a doubled border painted in gold and brown. Case: The scroll is housed in a silver case, apparently without hallmarks. Length: 185 mm. Width: 30 mm. The case has eight sides, made with unique engraving of gilt leaves. The bottom section has a nice roller. The upper section features a decorative dome that is surrounded by a gate and topped by a gilt knob. Smooth original cover with matching handle.
Unique features: This megilla was written by an expert scribe with an exceptionally nice script, with a colored illustration and a case made by an artisan.
Condition: Light erasures to the border of the opening illustration. Two light tears in the parchment strips, affecting solitary words. Clear tape reinforcement on the stitches to the strips following the names of Haman’s ten sons. Minimal stains. Fine condition. The case is in very fine condition.
Miniature Scroll of Esther, illustrated by an artist, with a special silver case. Jerusalem, 1920s.
Scroll Description: [4] sewn strips of parchment. The parchment is 79 mm wide. The strips are about 50 cm. long. The scroll was written in “Arizal Ktav”, with thin script. 24 lines, within a series of 16 circles. The script is 50 mm. wide. Each circle has a border decorated with black and gold geometric designs. Between the circles there are nice artistic illustrations of leaves, flowers, animals, musical instruments, fruits and more. All the pictures are in red, blue, pink and gold on a light-blue background. Case: The scroll is in an original silver case, apparently without marks, that was made specifically for this scroll, during the same era. Length: 150 mm. Width: 30 mm. The case is made of ten ribs with beautiful engraving of leaves and flowers that match the scroll illustrations – over the entire interior surface of the case. The bottom section has a cover that turns in order to roll up the scroll. The upper section has a matching cover with a nice fruit border. All silver. The case has a silver clasp with matching handle, which is also decorated in its entirety.
Unique features: This scroll was written and illustrated by a first-class artist. It was possibly made by Bezalel artists in the 1920s. Its matching silver case was also made by an undeniably top-notch craftsman.
Condition: The text and illustrations are rubbed in a number of locations, primarily at the start of the scroll. The case is in very fine condition with traces of gold plating.
Miniature Scroll of Esther with case made of bone and wood. Holland/England. 19th-20th century.
Description of the Scroll: [4] strips of parchment sewn together. The parchment is 63 mm. wide. The overall length is about 180 cm. Velish script. 18 lines.
Case: The megilla is housed within a round case made of wood and bone. Nice engraved text of the blessings recited before the reading of the megilla and grapevines. The upper section features a nice crown and the bottom has a rounded handle for rolling the scroll. Length: 140 mm. Width: 30 mm. Original clasp with handle made as a ring.
Condition: Light tears, primarily to the beginning of the megilla. Faded ink in a number of places. Minimal stains. Moderate condition. The case is in very fine condition.
Decorated miniature Scroll of Esther with an olive wood case designed like a Torah Scroll case. Jerusalem, 1897.
Description of megilla: [5] sewn strips of parchment. The parchment is 61 mm. wide. Nice scribal hand, Velish script, 14 lines. “Megillat HaMelech” – at the top of each column, the word “HaMelech” is decorated with flowers.
Case: Sculpted olive wood case made by a craftsman specifically for this scroll. It is designed like a Torah Scroll, with “atzei chaim” that serve as a rollers for the megilla. The outer section of the case has an artistic sculpture of the Western Wall and Temple Mount with matching text in ink. Interior dedication: “This case and scroll were gifted to the groom and youth Shmuel Dovid Katz son of Shimon Asher Katz…[1897]…Jerusalem…” With a metal clasp (key i s missing ).
Condition: Very fine. The parchment bears a few fold marks, as a result of rolling the parchment.
Megillat Esther with vivid, colorful illustrations in Arthur Szyk’s style . 20th century.
Specifications: Five sheets of parchment, 12 columns, 29 lines. Ink on parchment, scribal writing in Vellish script. The parchment is 22 cm wide. Illustrated initial word or letter at the tops of the columns. The column with the names of Haman’s ten sons features gallows. With an additional illustration at the Megillah’s conclusion.
Condition: Fine-very fine.
Scroll of Esther on parchment with ivory case. Italy, 18th century.
Specifications : Megillat Esther, ink on parchment. Written in 16 lines. Parchment: 6 cm. Italian script. An additional parchment sheet with the blessings on the megillah is sewn at the scroll’s beginning.
The case is made entirely of carved ivory. The megillah’s bottom part has an ivory handle for rolling the scroll, an ivory pot in the upper segment, and an ivory clasp. Everything is original. The case’s height is 21 cm.
Condition: Moderate. Stains, faded letters, tiny hole in parchment. The case’s upper edge is broken.
Megillat Esther with an ivory and wood case. The Ottoman Empire, late 19th – early 20th century.
Specifications : [1] Scroll of Esther on parchment, written in 16 lines. Parchment width: 6 cm.
The case is made of carved ivory, while the handle and top cover are made of wood. Case height: 23 cm. The case has a carved ivory clasp.
Condition: Fine condition. Blemishes to several letters, some flaws on the parchment’s edges. The last piece of parchment attached to the etz chaim (wooden pole) is not of sufficient additional width, and the final letters of the last column at the end of the scroll are hidden.
