Select manuscript from this collection: B26  S24 S26  S102  89/107

Country of Location:
Country of Location
Switzerland
Location:
Location
Zürich
Library / Collection:
Library / Collection
Braginsky Collection
Shelfmark:
Shelfmark
S25
Manuscript Title:
Manuscript Title
Megillah Esther (מגילת אסתר) / Esther scroll
Caption:
Caption
Parchment · 1 f. · 16.7 x 176 cm · Amsterdam · 1701
Language:
Language
Hebrew
Manuscript Summary:
Manuscript Summary
The special feature of this Esther scroll (on 4 sheets with 16 columns of text) are the detailed illustrations of the Book of Esther with the inclusion of motifs from the Midrash literature. These testify to a good knowledge of the Bible and the rabbinical commentaries. The depiction of Jews in festive dress with barrette and white ruffled collar (“Judenkragen”) points to a Western European milieu. In fact, the roll was created in Amsterdam. The scribe of this early and prototypical megillah with a printed decorative frame, Jacob from Berlin, wrote his name in the opening panel and dated the manuscript to the 18th century. (flu)
DOI (Digital Object Identifier):
DOI (Digital Object Identifier
10.5076/e-codices-bc-s-0025 (http://dx.doi.org/10.5076/e-codices-bc-s-0025)
Permanent link:
Permanent link
http://e-codices.ch/en/list/one/bc/s-0025
IIIF Manifest URL:
IIIF Manifest URL
IIIF Drag-n-drop http://e-codices.ch/metadata/iiif/bc-s-0025/manifest.json
How to quote:
How to quote
Zürich, Braginsky Collection, S25: Megillah Esther (מגילת אסתר) / Esther scroll (http://e-codices.ch/en/list/one/bc/s-0025).
Online Since:
Online Since
10/08/2020
External resources:
External resources
Rights:
Rights
Images:
(Concerning all other rights see each manuscript description and our Terms of use)
Document Type:
Document Type
Scroll/Roll
Century:
Century
18th century
Dated:
Dated
1701
Liturgica hebraica:
Liturgica hebraica
Megillah
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e-codices · 07/16/2020, 14:50:56

Wie die Estherrollen von Salom Italia ist auch diese Amsterdamer Megilla von 1701 nicht nur Vorbild, sondern geradezu Prototyp für viele ähnliche Megillot des 18. Jahrhunderts geworden. Auf dem Bild mit Ahasverus und Esther auf dem Thron im Eingangsabschnitt mit den Segenssprüchen trug sich Jakob aus Berlin als Schreiber des Textes mit Namen und Jahreszahl ein. Zeitgenössische Bezüge sind unter anderem bei den jüdischen Männergestalten im Festtagsgewand mit Barett und weissem «Judenkragen» oder in der Gestaltung barocker Gartenanlagen zu erkennen.
Die Besonderheit dieser Megilla sind die zahlrei­chen Szenen aus der Esthergeschichte am unteren Rand. Auch hier erscheinen neben den bekannten Episoden Motive aus der Midrasch­Literatur, so die Strangulierung der unbotmässigen Königin Waschti durch zwei Frauen. Originell ist auch, wie die Festsetzung des Termins für die Auslöschung der Juden durch Haman visuell umgesetzt ist: Er zielt hier mit Pfeil und Bogen auf die Zeichen des Tierkreises. Die Hochzeitsszene von Ahasverus und Esther geht hingegen auf die christliche Darstel­lung der Trauung von Joseph und Maria zurück.

Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, Hrsg. von Emile Schrijver und Falk Wiesemann, Zürich 2011, S. 282.

e-codices · 07/08/2020, 16:03:28

This prototypical scroll is distinctive for its detailed illustrations of the Purim story and for its inclusion of striking representations of midrash (rabbinic commentary). The speci city of these scenes reveals knowledge of both the Bible and its interpretations. One such illustration depicts Vashti being strangled by two women. The text of the book of Esther states only that the queen was never to appear again before the king. While the midrash speci es that she was executed, there is no mention of the method.
A second midrash is depicted in the scene illustrating the manner by which Haman determined the date for the destruction of the Jews. Rather than choosing lots, as described in the Bible, Haman shoots arrows at a zodiac wheel. Yet another illustration, the Wedding of Esther and Ahasuerus, employs the established Christian imagery of the Marriage of the Virgin.
This megillah belongs to a set of scrolls that share a printed border containing similar biblical scenes under the text columns. They differ, however, in the choice of subjects that appear above the text. In one group, landscapes are depicted, while in another, portrait busts of characters from the biblical story are portrayed.
The place of origin of all of these scrolls, which were widely disseminated throughout Europe, has been debated. The figures depicted in this scroll wear the clothing of wealthy Ashkenazic Jews; the at, round hat known as a barrette, the sarbal (festive cloak) and the Judenkragen (ruffled collar) point to a Western European milieu. Based on an example printed on paper bearing the watermark of C & I Honig (a Dutch paper manufacturer), Adri Offenberg has de nitively localized these scrolls to Amsterdam. He further posited that the Proops Brothers, prominent Amsterdam printers, most likely published the work.
The opening panel features a minute inscription by the scribe Jacob of Berlin written on the step of the throne in the upper middle panel. The date of 1701 is indicated by emphasizing the Hebrew letters aleph, samekh, and tav in the word “Esther.” This scroll is the earliest known example of the group of Amsterdam printed borders, which continued to be produced throughout the eighteenth century.

A Journey through Jewish Worlds. Highlights from the Braginsky collection of Hebrew manuscripts and printed books, ed. E. M. Cohen, S. L. Mintz, E. G. L. Schrijver, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 234.

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Schöne Seiten. Jüdische Schriftkultur aus der Braginsky Collection, Hrsg. von Emile Schrijver und Falk Wiesemann, Zürich 2011, S. 282

A Journey through Jewish Worlds. Highlights from the Braginsky collection of Hebrew manuscripts and printed books, ed. E. M. Cohen, S. L. Mintz, E. G. L. Schrijver, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 234.

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