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).

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 Peretz David son of Yitzchak Nissim Chaim Ovadiah [Servadio] and Ricca daughter of Avraham HaLevi. Senigallia, Italy, 14th Tishrei 5603 [September 18, 1842].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Ketubah on rectangular parchment sheet, with upper margins cut into a stylized arch topped by a pointed ornamentation. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, with the edge containing signatures of the groom and witnesses: Yaakov Chaim Moscato and Avraham Chaim Montebarocci.

Very richly decorated, in a symmetrical pattern, comprising architectural motifs incorporating vegetal illustrations, interlocking wreaths, musical instruments (lyre) and two miniature pastoral landscapes. The bottom third features a large female figure carrying a basket full of flowers.

The present ketubah stands out from other known ketubot of Senigallia for its great beauty and unique miniature landscapes incorporated in its bottom margins.

43.5X77 cm. Fair-good condition. Old moisture damage, mainly visible on verso, but some affecting text and illustrations on front. Old folding marks. Marginal tears and some pieces missing, professionally restored.

This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubot site, listing 990003035480205171.

For similar ketubot from Senigallia, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, nos. 124-128.

Large decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yitzchak Refael son of Yehoshua Yehudah Amado and Joya daughter of Daniel de Chaves. Izmir, Ottoman Empire (today Turkey), 14th Shevat 5575 [January 25, 1815].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Richly-decorated ketubah, representing the early ketubah decorating tradition of Sephardic Jews in Izmir. This is one of the earliest decorated ketubot of Izmir.

Ketubah on large parchment sheet, with upper margin cut in wave pattern, with a sharp rounded protrusion in center. The ketubah text appears in the bottom half inside an arch-shaped frame, in Sephardic cursive script (several words – blessings, the names of the groom and bride, and dowry – are written in square script). The witnesses' signatures appear below the ketubah text: "David Amado" – Rabbi of Izmir (1777-1832), author of Tehillah LeDavid and Einei David; "Avraham Chaim", and signature of groom.

After signatures appears a Tosefet Ketubah written years later in Jerusalem, on 9th Tamuz 1862. Below are signatures of witnesses: to the right – signature and stamp of R. Rachamim Shlomo HaLevi (a rabbi and kabbalist of Jerusalem), to the left – signature and stamp of R. Refael Yisrael Elyakim (a rabbi of Jerusalem and Hebron), and in center – signature of groom, Yitzchak Refael Amado.

Afterwards follows another line with a confirmation by the Beit Din, signed by: R. Mordechai Eliezer Suzin (an emissary and rabbi of Jerusalem), R. Rachamim Menachem Mitrani (a rabbi of Adrianople, today Edirne; authored the MeAm Loez commentary on the Book of Yehoshua, continuing the endeavor initiated by R. Yaakov Culi) and R. Menachem son of R. Yitzchak (a rabbi of Adrianople).

The ketubah is richly decorated in gold, red, yellow and green, mainly in vegetal patterns. On the top is a large, round medallion with a flower-like decoration in its center, with eight petals; its outer frame incorporates the verse "One who finds a wife has found good" (Mishlei 18:22), and along the petals are verses from Yeshayahu (61:10-11; 62:1). The ketubah decorations resemble the style of ketubot from Thessaloniki during the same period.

Despite the bounty of documented ketubot in Izmir – which was home to one of the largest, most prosperous Jewish communities in the Ottoman Empire, and the second most important in Turkey – only a few decorated ketubot from the early 19th century survive. In his article on decorated ketubot of the Ottoman Empire, Prof. Shlomo Sabar notes (see below) that only two ketubot survive from this period (up to the 1830s), dated 1828 and 1830. The NLI ketubah site documents only two earlier ketubot from Izmir.

De Chaves was an important and well-established family in Izmir. Members of the family are mentioned in the Chevra Kadisha book of Izmir, Constantinople 1750, which records the names of society members since the mid-17th century.

66X87.5 cm. Overall good condition. Many folds and creases, affecting decorations. Some stains, mainly to margins. Several tears and missing pieces in margins. Uneven trimming of bottom margin (apparently original).

Reference: Shalom Sabar, "Decorated Ketubbot", in: Sephardi Jews in the Ottoman Empire: Aspects of Material Culture, edited by Esther Juhasz, Jerusalem: The Israel Museum, 1990, pp. 218-237.