Bidspirit auction | Colorfully Decorated Esther Scroll with

Colorfully Decorated Esther Scroll with of Blessings – Italy, ca. 1800 - Decorated Esther scroll. Italy, possibly Ancona, ca. 1800. Ink and paint on parchment; turned wood. Esther scroll, written on 4 sheets of parchment sewn together, 14 columns of text, 20 lines per column. Edges of tab at beginning of scroll artistically cut. The tab bears a large, colorful illustration in a yellow and red vegetal pattern. Yellow-and-red rectangular frames border the entire text of the scroll. An additional large, colorful, matching illustration appears on the tab at the end of the last sheet of the scroll. A sheet of blessings over the reading of the Megillah (unillustrated) accompanies the scroll. Original wooden handle. Height of parchment sheets: 20 cm. Overall good condition. Few stains and slight wear to beginning of scroll. Open tear to leading edge of first sheet. Missing tie, formerly attached to leading tab. Sheet of blessings: 16X23 cm. Overall good condition, creases and few stains. Height of handle: 35 cm. Minor blemishes. Small ornament missing from upper tip (?).