Esther Scroll on Parchment – Hand-Painted Decorations, after Francesco Griselini / Emblem of the Levi-Minzi Family ...

Esther Scroll on Parchment – Hand-Painted Decorations, after Francesco Griselini / Emblem of the Levi-Minzi Family on Accompanying Sheet – Probably Venice, Ca. Mid-18th Century

Engraving, ink and paint on parchment; turned wood.
"HaMelekh" Esther scroll – the Hebrew word "HaMelekh" ("The King") appears at the top of most of the columns – written on four sheets of parchment, with 19 columns of text, 26 lines per column. The columns of text are enclosed within architectonic frames whose design is based on Esther scrolls created by the engraver Francesco Griselini (1717-1787) in Venice in the 1740s. The scroll is wrapped around a wooden shaft with elegant polished handles at either end.
Each column of text is enclosed within an arched architectonic structure consisting of columns on either side and topped with a "railing" adorned with medallions, elaborate vegetal patterns, vases with flowers, and mermaids grasping sea creatures. Surmounting each railing are pairs of living creatures, including birds of various sorts, roosters, lions, and other animals. Scenes from the Book of Esther are depicted at the bottom of each column of text, between the bases of each pair of architectonic columns. The decorations and illustrations are all hand-painted in rich shades of purple, blue, green, yellow, and orange.
Accompanying the scroll is a manuscript parchment sheet bearing the blessings to be recited over the reading of the Esther scroll; the blessing "harav et riveinu" concludes with the words "cursed be all idolaters" (Hebrew). The sheet is adorned in an architectonic pattern; its handmade illustrations match those of the Esther scroll and are hand painted in shades of purple and orange. To the left of the blessings is an additional illustration enclosed within a fancy elliptical medallion. It consists of a tilted pitcher, from which water pours into a basin; it represents the emblem of the Levi-Minzi family. The name "Minzi" derives from the German city of Mainz. Beginning in the 15th century, the family resided in Padua, and then moved to Venice in the 17th century, where its descendants remained until the late 18th century (see: Elvio Giuditta, "Araldica ebraica in Italia", [Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, Torino], 2007, p. 136).

Height of shaft and handles: 25 cm. Height of parchment sheets: approx. 10 cm, length of parchment sheet: 126 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Minor tears and wear to leading edge of first sheet. Ink slightly faded in frame of first sheet (especially in the first column). Small open tear to lower part of the first sheet, affecting frame. Few creases.

Accompanying sheet of blessings: approx. 16X10 cm. Good condition. Minor tears at edges (repaired). Minor creases and stains. The Esther scroll in the Braginsky Collection is enclosed within an additional frame.

For similar Esther scrolls, see: Christie’s, Amsterdam, December 19, 1990, lot no. 469; Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Klau Library, Scrolls 26 (VIII.6) (from the Salli Kirschstein Collection); and the René Braginsky Collection, S2.

Exhibitions:

1. Presumably, London, Exhibition of Jewish Art and Antiquities, Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1906, item no. 1162 (four scrolls on loan from Solomon Schloss).
2. Glasgow, Festival of Jewish Arts Exhibition, McLellan Galleries, 1951, item no. 256.
3. Basel, Jewish Museum of Switzerland, JMS 1028 and JMS 1029.
Provenance:
1. Collection of Solomon David Schloss (1815-1911).
2. Lewis Raphael Castle (1858-1932), son of the above.
3. Peter Castle (1922-2011), grandson of the above.
4. Heirs of the above.
This item appears in the inventory list of the Schloss Collection, dated 1923 (see appendix, pp. 146-148).