Bidspirit auction | Illustrated Scroll of Esther on

Illustrated Scroll of Esther on Parchment – ​​Germany, 18th Century Illustrated Scroll of Esther. [Germany], 18th Century. Written and illustrated parchment; Megillah house made of wood. The scroll is highlighted in an enlarged form with initials of the names of the name of God (the name of God is not explicitly mentioned in the scroll, but those seeking clues have found the names of the names of God and other holy names in the initials and notarikon. The custom of emphasizing these initials is common mainly among the Hasidim). The scroll is illustrated in a folk-naive style. The illustrations in this scroll are based on a type of a group of scrolls from the 18th century, decorated with copper engravings, in which illustrations of the story of the scroll were combined with combinations of decorations and landscape paintings. Between the columns, there are columns in various styles. In the row before the first column are blessings for reading the scroll, with the title ”Blessing of the Megillah” and paintings around it. At the top of the description are seated a king and queen - Esther and Ahasuerus on their wedding day. On the sides of the blessings are a garden and Tarshish, and Haman and his sons hang. Below, Haman is seen leading Mordecai on horseback, and in the background is an architectural description (perhaps Period synagogue). On the upper margins, above the columns, are figures of Poti angels combined with acanthus leaves. Between the columns are architectural columns with capitals of various colors. At their top are alternating decorations: a vase with flowers, a basket of fruit, and a crown. The bases of the columns are also varied and feature faces and geometric decorations. Beneath the columns are depicted in medallions the heroes of the scroll, several times in the clothes of the period. Ahasuerus holds a scepter, in Esther's hand a flower, and at another time she holds a feather. Mordecai appears with a book and writing instruments. On the column where the names of the ten sons of Haman are written, a tree is painted, on which the sons of Haman are hanging, with a long ladder leaning against the tree and an executioner and his assistant busy with the task of hanging. In the last column is the column of blessings. The title ”Baruch” is written in large letters. Before the poem ”Shoshanat Yaakov” is written in Yiddish-Deutsch (German in Hebrew letters): ”Tzo Arganesh--bet men an”. Below are five figures from the heroes of the scroll, each holding a shield with an inscription: ”Cursed is Haman who sought my life”, ”Blessed is Mordechai the Jew, cursed is Zeresh, the woman who scares me”, ”Blessed is Esther in me” and ”Remember the destruction”. Parchment height: 18.5 cm. 26 lines per page. Good-fair condition, several holes, adhesive paper repairs in several places, worn and faded paint, the scroll cover is damaged.