Auction 102 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
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Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Eliyahu son of Gavriel Padovani and Gentila daughter of "the expert physician" David Nachmias. "S. Lucia near Conegliano" (Santa Lucia di Piave), Italy, 12th Tishrei 5486 [September 19, 1725].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on large parchment sheet, with upper margins cut into a somewhat pointed arch. The text of the ketubah appears in the bottom half, in square letters, with signatures of witnesses below: David son of Shlomo Valensin and Yaakov son of Avraham Yeshurun (to the right) and the signature of the groom (to the left). Below the signatures appears a certification in Italian on translation of the ketubah (see below), issued in Venice on November 25, 1745, with the signature of the translator, "Moise qm. [quondam] Raffael Vitta Naso" (Moshe son of Refael Chai Naso) and his stamp, depicting a figure wrestling a lion.
The upper third of the ketubah is decorated with a large, gilt guilloche, illustrated with flowers and a pair of birds, above which is a (blank) medallion with a crown, the blessing "With an auspicious sign and good luck" and the verse "A woman of valor is the crown of her husband". The bottom two thirds contain the ketubah text, located within a golden arch bearing the verse "He who has found a wife has found good". The arch is supported by two massive pillars decorated with golden guilloches, with large Corinthian capitals, with flower vases set upon them. The design of this ketubah follows the traditions of design common in northern and central Italy, and ketubot with similar decorations, from the same period, are documented from Venice and other cities in the Veneto region.
The fascinating story of the bride, Gentila Nachmias, is documented in detail in documents housed in the Central Archives of the State (Italy). As described there, in 1740, Gentila's husband left her, traveling to England, and so she returned to her father's home. A year later her husband returned, and she became pregnant for a second time. The husband later traveled to Venice for an extended period with their eldest son. During this period, Gentila read a book by a Jewish apostate and decided to convert to Christianity (which she evidently did in June 1744). On May 14, 1744, at the age of 35, she fled with her children from her father's home in Santa Lucia, taking refuge under the bishop of Ceneda, who sent her children to Venice to convert. Gentila's father sued for the return of his grandchildren, but it is unclear what eventually happened to them.
Apparently, due to these events, the present ketubah was also marked as certified for translation to Italian in 1745. For further information, see: Giovanni e Silvia Tomasi, Ebrei nel Veneto orientale, Firenze: Giuntina, 2012, pp. 146, 228-229 (see also p. 146, note 573, mentioning the translator Moise Raffael Vitta Naso).
53X70 cm. Fair-good condition. Creases, stains and tears, professionally restored, affecting text and decorations. Fading of paint. Margins of ketubah may have been originally wider and were later trimmed. Signs of parchment processing visible on verso.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the only documented ketubah from Santa Lucia. This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035470205171.
For similar ketubot from the Veneto region, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, nos. 28-30, 36, 38.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe Shmuel son of Yehudah Guglielmi and Diamante daughter of Yitzchak Mondolfi. Urbino, Italy, 10th Cheshvan 5493 [October 29, 1732].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on a rectangular parchment sheet, its upper part shaped into a pointed arch, featuring undulating margins. The text of the ketubah appears in the center, in square script, with the signatures of witnesses below: Avraham Chai son of R. David and Matzliach son of Porat son of Yehudah Zechariah Chaim son of Porat.
The text of the ketubah is framed in a pointed arch, featuring undulating margins, headed by blessings arranged along the arch's edges: "With an auspicious sign and good luck for the groom, bride and all of Israel, Amen". The margins of the ketubah are decorated with a wide frame composed of rich and colorful vegetal and floral illustrations, incorporating a pair of peacocks. The design of the ketubah is influenced by common decorative traditions of the Marche region, and it resembles decorated ketubot from Ancona and Senigallia.
40X65 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, creases and folding marks, slightly affecting text and decorations. Damage and open tear to margins, professionally restored.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Aharon son of Moshe Enriques and Avigayil daughter of Aharon Serano. Bayonne, France, 13th Kislev 5494 [November 20, 1733].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Written on a small rectangular parchment sheet, with upper margins cut in an undulating pattern. The text of the ketubah appears in the center, in brown Sephardic semi-cursive script, with the signatures of the groom and witnesses below, in Latin characters (illegible).
Decorated with a colorful, symmetric vegetal pattern, containing flower branches emerging from a pair of vases. At the top of the ketubah is a cartouche with the blessing "With an auspicious sign" (with serifs on letters). The text is surrounded by a red rectangular frame, and the margins are bordered in a matching frame.
This ketubah documents the marriage of a couple of Sephardic origin. Its decorations may have been influenced by the engraved borders that began to appear in ketubot of the Sephardic-Portuguese community of the Netherlands in the 17th century (based on engravings produced by the engraver and artist Shalom Italia).
27.5X34.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Creases, folding marks and stains, slightly affecting text and illustrations.
The NLI ketubah site documents only eight ketubot from Bayonne, most in museum or institutional collections.
This ketubah was formerly in the collection of Mozes Heiman Gans (1917-1987), Amsterdam, from which it was scanned onto the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003030970205171.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of David son of Shlomo Basilea and Diamanta daughter of Moshe David Verlengo of Verona. Mantua, Italy, 1st Tevet 5503 [December 28, 1742].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on large rectangular parchment sheet, with upper margins cut in a wave pattern. The ketubah text appears in the center, in square script, with the signatures of the witnesses below (blurred): Yehudah son of Yaakov Mondolfi and Gur Aryeh son of Binyamin Finzi.
The decorated frame is divided into two parts: the upper third features a golden guilloche captioned "My beloved is a bundle of myrrh to me" (Shir HaShirim 1:13), surrounded by rich illustrations in vegetal patterns, with a pair of flower vases, a pair of birds standing on branches, a pair of angels holding a medallion (empty), headed by the verse: "A woman of valor is the crown of her husband": The bottom two thirds contain a repeating pattern of leaves and flowers, incorporating the twelve signs of the zodiac, and in the four corners – inside round medallions – appear four illustrations of the Temple vessels: the menorah, the washing basin, the ark and the showbread. The outer frame incorporates verses of blessing from the Book of Ruth.
The array of designs in this ketubah was very popular in the 18th century, and variations of it are repeated in many Italian ketubot of the period. The present variation contains illustrations of the Temple vessels, as opposed to others depicting the four seasons.
The second witness to sign the ketubah, Gur Aryeh son of Binyamin Finzi, was a rabbi of Mantua, a disciple of R. Yehudah Briel. R. Aviad Sar Shalom Basilea, another contemporary rabbi of Mantua, writes in one of his letters, when he joined the Ramchal controversy, that he read the Ramchal's writings "in the company of R. Yehudah Mendola and R. Gur Finzi" (Igrot Ramchal Uvnei Doro, p. 390). R. Gur Aryeh Finzi was eulogized by the Chida, who reached Mantua at the time of his passing (in 1754; the Chida documents this in his Maagal Tov). R. Gur Aryeh proofread and published the Shulchan Aruch with the commentary of his uncle R. Gur Aryeh (son of Moshe Hoshayah) Finzi of Mantua.
54.5X79.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, some dark, affecting some decorations. The gold decorations are partly faded, appearing in a shade of green instead. Moisture damage, some heavy, affecting text and illustrations (discernible mainly on verso). Marginal tears and missing pieces, professionally restored.
This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035500205171.
For further information and similar ketubot, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, nos. 29 (KET 49), 37-38 (KET 258, KET 45).
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Aharon son of Gavriel Luria and Avigayil daughter of Yosef Ohev Brandon. Hamburg, Germany, 8th Adar II 5516 [March 10, 1756].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Written on a small rectangular parchment sheet. The text of the ketubah is written in square script and is followed by signatures of the groom (to the right) and the witnesses Yaakov (Jaacob) Belinfante and Yonah (Jona) Asayol (all in Latin characters), below which appear the Tena'im, also in square script, again with the same three signatures. The text mentions that the dowry was written "on a separate document made on Wednesday, 8th Kislev of this year, signed by R. Yaakov HaKohen Belinfante and R. Yonah Asayol".
Decorated with a rectangular frame in a repeating vegetal pattern colored bright blue and red, across the upper, right and left margins, with two small bases in bottom corners.
19X32 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains and creases, slightly affecting decorations and text.
For further information on the Spanish-Portuguese community in Hamburg, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, no. 217 (KET 242).
This ketubah was formerly in the collection of Mozes Heiman Gans (1917-1987), Amsterdam, from which it was scanned onto the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003030910205171.
Illuminated parchment ketubah, recording the marriage of the groom Yaakov son of Michael Cammeo with the bride Simcha daughter of Moshe Di Castro. Rome, Italy, 8th Adar II 5540 [March 15, 1780].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah written on a rectangular sheet of parchment, with the lower margin cut in an undulating, inverted arch shape, typical of ketubot from Rome. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, with signatures of the witnesses in the margins: Yaakov Matzliach ben Yitzchak Di Cori and Yosef Baruch ben Mordechai Moshe HaCohen.
The ketubah is adorned with colorful floral illustrations and a pair of peacocks. At the top, a large cartouche adorned with fabric ribbons, surmounted by a crown. The cartouche contains two family coat of arms featuring upright lions (the right emblem presumably belonging to the groom’s family, the Di Castro family). Five allegorical illustrations appear in the upper and lower corners, as well as along the lower margin: the figures in the upper corners allude to the names of the bride and groom – the right figure, a woman holding a cornucopia and a flowering branch, accompanied by the verse "VeSimeach et ishto" ("and delight his wife"), represents the bride, Simcha. The left figure, a man encircled by a ring bearing zodiac symbols, accompanied by the verse "VeYaakov ish tam" ("Jacob was an innocent man"), represents the groom, Yaakov. The lower corner figures symbolize abundance and modesty: on the right, a figure holding a cornucopia and a bundle of wheat, with the inscription "Abbondanza" (abundance); on the left, a figure holding a branch with a bird perched on its hand, with the inscription "Castità" (chastity). The lower central illustration depicts a man and woman carrying a chain around their necks from which a heart hangs, accompanied by the verse "VeDavak be'ishto" ("and cleave to his wife"). Blessings from the Book of Ruth and Tehillim are integrated into the margins.
92X60.5 cm. Overall good condition.
For additional ketubot from the Di Castro family, see: René Braginsky Collection, Ketubah no. 44 (Rome, 1763); State Archives of Rome, Ms. 264/6 (Rome, 1879); and Antique Roman Ketubot (2019). For more ketubot from Rome, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, nos. 131-145, and also next lot in the present catalogue.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of David son of Yedidiah Chaim Bondì and Esther daughter of Avraham Shmuel Modigliano [Modigliani]. Rome, Italy, 13th Adar 5572 [February 26, 1812].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on a large rectangular sheet of parchment, with bottom margins cut in the shape of a reversed pointed archway, characteristic of ketubot from Rome. The text of the ketubah appears in the center in square letters, with the signatures of the witnesses below: Yitzchak son of Yaakov Citone and Moshe Yitzchak son of Mordechai Elisha Castelnuovo. Between the first and second line, the word "seventy" is added to the date in smaller letters. The space for the name of the notary is left blank.
Decorated with colorful flower illustrations and repeating vegetal patterns, incorporating verses of blessing. The floral decorations and verses of blessing are separated by tens of micrographic arches incorporating more blessings (Sheva Berachot and more) and psalms.
The top of the ketubah features two illustrations on Biblical themes alluding to the names of the bride and groom: to the right King Ahasuerus extends his scepter to Esther, and to the left David holds Goliath's head. Between the two illustrations is a decorated cartouche with the Bondì family coat of arms – the groom's family – a rooster gazing at the sun; on the bottom margins is another cartouche, set between two cornucopias, with the Modigliano (Modigliani) family coat of arms – the bride's family – a rooster standing atop a three-peaked mountain, holding a branch, with a crescent to the left and a star to the right.
51.5X93 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and some stains. Light damage to decorations, mainly on margins. Old tears and damage to margins of parchment sheet, professionally restored. Two slits to edge of bottom corner.
For similar ketubot and further information, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, no. 135 (KET 44), and René Braginsky collection, K41. For the family coats of arms of the bride and groom, see: Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia, [Torino]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 163, 185-186.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham son of Yitzchak Cransy and Rivkah daughter of David Leon. Bordeaux, France, 4th Tishrei 5576 [October 8, 1815].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on a small rectangular parchment sheet with rounded upper corners. The text of the ketubah appears in the center, in brown Sephardic semi-cursive script, and the signatures appear below in Latin characters: signature of R. Abraham Andrade, Rabbi of Bordeaux, signatures of the groom and witnesses (difficult to decipher; Mendes? Astrug?). The text also mentions a civil document notarized "by the notary Matthieu". Although the text begins with the word "Wednesday", the date 4th Tishrei that year fell on a Sunday, not a Wednesday.
The ketubah is decorated in the characteristic style of the Sephardic families of Bordeaux, and includes illustrations of flowering branches growing from a large flowerpot located in the center of the bottom margins. The text is framed in a square, with the blessing "With an auspicious sign" at the top in large letters, decorated with undulating patterns in shades of yellow and orange.
28.5X42 cm. Fair condition. Stains, some dark, affecting text and illustrations. Many creases and folding marks. Tears and damage, professionally restored.
This ketubah was formerly in the collection of Mozes Heiman Gans (1917-1987), Amsterdam, from which it was scanned onto the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003030990205171.
For a similar ketubah, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, no. 212 (KET 149).
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).
Illuminated parchment ketubah, recording the marriage of the groom Yehoshua Chaim ben Matzliach HaCohen with the bride Pazienza bat Michael Chaim Menashe Campos. Ancona, Italy, 14th Nisan 5587 [April 11, 1827].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah written on a large rectangular parchment sheet, with the upper margin cut in a decorative pattern. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, with signatures of the witnesses in the margins: Matityahu Elia Yechiel Cagli and Yitzchak ben Raphael Levi, who signed his name in Latin letters. In the lower third, additional "Tena'im" appear in cursive Italian script, followed by the signatures of the aforementioned witnesses. The ketubah also references a "Shetar Notzri" agreed upon by the bride and groom (i.e. a parallel document in Italian).
The ketubah text is framed within an arch supported by two architectural columns. The margins are decorated with colorful floral illustrations incorporating two butterflies, in motifs characteristic of ketubot from Ancona (see also previous in the present catalogue). At the top, a cartouche with blessings, surmounted by a crown. Along the right and left margins, two allegorical illustrations represent the bride and groom – the groom holding a sheaf of wheat, and the bride holding a vine with grapes – accompanied by a blessing from Hosea 14:8: they shall revive [like] corn and blossom like the vine (Hebrew).
66X51 cm. Overall good condition.
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. 118 (KET 62).
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham son of Moshe son of Avraham Mashiach and Luna daughter of Yosef son of Yehudah Attar. Gibraltar, 15th Cheshvan 5587 [November 15, 1826].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on rectangular parchment sheet. The ketubah text appears in the center in cursive Sephardic script, with signatures of the groom (in the center) and the witnesses: "Shalem Aflalo" (a rabbi of Gibraltar) and "Moshe Chasan son of Chaim". The ketubah text follows the rite of the Spanish exiles, as noted at the end: "All according to the stipulations, customs and enactments practiced, stipulated and enacted by the communities exiled from Castile, may their Rock avenge them and have grace, pity and mercy on their remnant".
The ketubah text is bordered by a yellow-gold wood-like frame. The wide margins are decorated in symmetrical vegetal patterns, topped by a pair of cherubs (putti) holding a large crown. On the upper margins appear blessings: "With a good sign, auspicious, opportune and favorable time".
The ketubah decorations are reminiscent of other decorated ketubot from Gibraltar in the 19th century, although they also show signs of European influence (usually the flower decorations are arranged in bouquets, and no angels appear next to the crown).
52.5X56.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, slightly affecting text and illustrations. Fading of ink.
Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yaakov son of Moshe Altaras and Rosa Laura daughter of Avraham Levi Sonsino. Genoa, Italy, 2nd Adar 5588 [February 17, 1828].
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah on rectangular parchment sheet. The text of the ketubah appears on the bottom half, in square letters, with the signatures of witnesses below: Refael Pinchas Bachi and David Tzion (on right) and the groom (on bottom). The ketubah also mentions a civil document notarized on February 13 by "a Christian notary scribe".
The text of the ketubah is framed in a rectangular arch, above which are two angels blowing horns and holding a banner reading "and good luck" (the beginning of the blessing, "With an auspicious sign", appears higher up). The frame is decorated with a symmetrical arrangement including a repeating pattern of leaf and flower decorations.
44X60 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, mainly to margins, only slightly affecting text and decorations. Folding marks.
For similar ketubot from Genoa, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, nos. 6-7 (KET 203, KET 144).