Bidspirit auction | Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy,

Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 18th Century – Aziz Family - Decorated Esther scroll. Italy, possibly Padua, [18th century], colophon dated 5512 [1752]. Ink and paint on parchment; wood, turned and carved. Esther scroll written on 5 sheets of parchment sewn together, 14 columns of text, 21 lines per column. Edges of tab at beginning of scroll artistically cut. This tab bears a large, colorful illustration in the form of a cartouche with an ownership inscription in the middle: ”… I, Moshe Asher / son of… R. Meir Aziz / wrote this scroll / in year / 5512 [1752] / …” (Hebrew). A lengthy parchment tie is sewn onto the tab. All columns of text are bordered with slender rectangular frames painted goldish green. Wound around original wooden handle. The Aziz (Da Zara) family originates from Padua, northern Italy. Magnificent ketubot belonging to this family, created in Padua in the 17th and 18th centuries, can be found in the collections of the National Library of Israel (Ms. Heb. 901.264=1), and the Israel Museum (B79.1468). Height of parchment sheets: 15.5 cm. Overall good condition. Few stains. Spots of faded ink. Faded segments re-inscribed later, with ink. Faded paint. Parchment strip attached to tab may be somewhat more recent. Height of handle: 28 cm. Good condition. Minor fractures and few fissures.