Ketubah decorated with parchment cut, for wedding of Mordechai son of Yehudah son of Mordechai HaLevi and Bona daughter of Yosef Chai di Cigoli. Senigallia, Italy, 14th Tishrei 5538 [15 October 1777].
Ink and paint on cut parchment.
Written on a rectangular parchment sheet with upper edges cut in wave pattern. Ketubah text in center in square script, with signatures of witnesses beneath the text: Moshe son of Eliyahu Foa and Yitzchak Shabtai son of Shlomo Delvecchio.
The ketubah text is set within a square frame decorated with a parchment cut (characteristic of ketubot of Lugo), including intertwining vines, flowers and birds. Upper edge includes further cut decorations, including flowers, foliage and a pair of angels holding a heart with an inscribed blessing. Three additional frames – to the left, right and below – are decorated with similar vegetal patterns, birds and a two-headed eagle. The outer margins incorporate another verse (Ruth 4:11).
48.5X63 cm. Overall good condition. Some creases and stains (some dark), slightly affecting text. Minor tears and small pieces missing from edges, professionally restored.
The present ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035460205171.
For additional parchment cut ketubot, see: Ebrei a Lugo, I Contratti matrimoniali (Imola: Galeati, 1994); René Braginsky Collection, K96, K105; Sotheby's, New York, 29 April 2013 (Steinhardt Collection), Lots 101-102.
