Bidspirit auction | Magnificent Manuscript Yemenite Siddur with

Magnificent Manuscript Yemenite Siddur with colorful illustrations,    luxurious box-binding. * This manuscript is an artistic masterpiece in every sense, both in its handwriting and binding. The sefer is presented in a luxurious, colorful ”box binding” crafted from wood and covered with dyed fabric typical of the region's style, with beautiful silver decorations and clasps, some of them gilded, crafted by Yemen's finest silversmiths. The siddur was handwritten for ”the esteemed master Yichye ben Suleiman ben Mar Yosef ben Shalom Al-Badichi, ” a well-known and wealthy individual in Sana'a at the time. He was a prominent trader in gold and silver. The siddur is written in an exceptionally large and elegant script, with colorful title pages, headings, and colophons, artistically illustrated in vivid colors of black, red, green, orange, and purple. Titled ”Order of Prayers for All Festivals”, it is a prayer book for the Yamim Noraim and Shalosh Regalim according to Yemenite custom, with Azharos for Shavuos and the Order of Torah readings, with ta'amim (cantillation marks) and annotations highlighting variations in different cantillation marks. The manuscript was handwritten by Rabbi Shalom Korach, one of the leading sages of Sana'a, who was also an expert scribe. It was completed in Sana'a in 1938. In addition to the main title page, there are also decorated title pages for both the Azharos and the Festival Torah readings. In some places, Rabbi Shalom added notes to the prayer texts. Rabbi Shalom Korach (1873–1953), one of the leading rabbanim of Yemen and a community leader in Sana'a, was also a distinguished teacher who raised generations of students. He was a prolific author whose works, including Midrash Ashrei, Divrei Shalom, Derech HaChachamim, and Ginzei Chochma, have been printed and studied widely. About his exceptional scribal skills, Dr. Moshe Gavra wrote: ”He devoted extensive efforts to copying sefarim...his manuscripts are distinguished by their precision and beauty. He was an artistically gifted scribe with an eye for aesthetics, who adorned his writings with various colors” (Encyclopedia of Yemenite Scholars, vol. 1, p. 566). This impressive manuscript, completed in Sana'a in 1938, is written on fine quality paper with wide margins. Page Count: [135] leaves (+several blank leaves at the beginning and end). Size: 24 cm (including binding: 27 cm). Condition: Good, minor defects on the spine. The binding is documented at the Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 339308. Provenance: Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 011.002.YM.