Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Esther Scroll Decorated with Pointed Horseshoes – Morocco, 19th Century
Opening: $1,500
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Miniature Esther scroll decorated with pointed horseshoes. Morocco, [probably Essaouira (Mogador) or Tétouan, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; leather; turned wood; metal.
Esther scroll in Sephardic script on 10 parchment membranes sewn together, 65 text columns, 11-13 lines per column. Edge of tab at beginning of scroll artistically cut, with an attached leather fastener (more recent).
All text columns (except the last) are arranged in frames designed as pointed horseshoes, colored alternately red and green, with meticulous decorations between the horseshoes, also colored red and green. Rolled on original handle, made of turned wood and decorated with two metal rings, a feature shared by most Torah rollers from Morocco.
Height of parchment: 5.8 cm. Height of handle: 17.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, minor tears, creases and wear to beginning of scroll, slightly affecting text and decorations. Most of scroll in very good condition. Leather fastener is more recent, replacing a parchment fastener sewn into beginning of first membrane.
Esther Scrolls
Esther Scrolls