Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham Yitzchak Shabtai son of Yisrael Ajò and Rivkah daughter of Yitzchak son of Shlomo HaKohen. Ancona, Italy, 2nd Nisan 5576 [March 31, 1816].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on large rectangular parchment sheet, with upper margins cut into an arch. The ketubah text appears in the center, in square letters, with the signatures of the witnesses below: Moshe Yitzchak son of Meshulam Yedidiah Shabtai Chaim Pesaro and Shmuel Yisrael Chaim son of David Almagià. Under the signatures of the witnesses are added Tena'im in Italian cursive script, followed by repeated signatures of the same witnesses.
The ketubah is decorated with charming illustrations – some gold – in a symmetrical pattern incorporating architectural motifs with decorations of fruit and vegetables, birds and butterflies. The text appears in an architectural frame comprising an arch standing on a pair of stylized carved pillars with female figures as capitals (caryatids) and acanthus leaves and hissing lions as bases. Above the arch are placed two large flower vases with butterflies, between which is a ribbon-adorned wreath and pair of birds, with a blessing in the center: "With an auspicious sign and good luck for the groom, bride and all of Israel, Amen". To either side of the ketubah text appear figures of a man and a woman, representing the groom and bride, Avraham and Rivkah, standing on podiums with the verse: "And they blessed Rebecca and said to her: Our sister, may you become thousands of myriads" (Bereshit 24:60; the right pillar apparently had another verse on it which became blurred and was overwritten by the present verse).
54X80 cm. Fair-good condition. Some stains, mainly to margins, generally not affecting text. Light fading of paint, especially of gold. Tears professionally restored – across margins, mainly upper margins – especially visible on verso; some repaired with pieces of parchment.
This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035640205171.
For a similar ketubah and further information, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, no. 109 (KET 104).
