Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yaakov son of Moshe Chai Curiel and Rachel daughter of Kalonymus Nuveira. Venice, Italy, 8th Adar 5519 [March 7, 1759].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Ketubah on large rectangular parchment sheet, with upper edges cut into an arch shape. Th text is written in two columns: to the right appears the ketubah text in square script, and to the left appears the Tenaim text in Sephardic semi-cursive script. At edge of ketubah text and of Tenaim appears the signature of the groom (in Latin characters) and the witnesses Simchah son of Avraham Calimani [Venetian rabbi, grammarian, playwright and poet] and David Chai son of Avraham Shanah Tovah.

The decorated frame is divided into two parts, richly decorated and illustrated with images, patterns and verses, as well as the coat of arms of the bride's family (Nuveira; also spelled: Noveira, Novera, Nojera or Navarro).

57X80 cm. Fair-good condition. Old stains and dampstains, affecting text and decorations. Few pinholes. Tears, including some open tears (to margins and bottom right corner), slightly affecting illustrations, professionally restored.

This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035560205171.

For further information and similar ketubot, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, vol. I, nos. 29 (KET 49) and 36 (KET 1).

For the Nuveira family coat of arms, see: Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia, [Torino]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, p. 74.

Large decorated paper ketubah. Venice, Italy, 14th Nisan 5589 [April 17, 1829].

Ink and paint on paper.

Ketubah on large paper sheet with upper edges cut into an arch, and decorated with a rich and colorful architectural pattern featuring pillars, ribbon medallions, the Tablets of the Covenant and a crown. Verses of blessing appear across the edges. On the edges of the ketubah text are the signatures of the groom and witnesses.

54.5X67 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, mainly to margins. Creases and folding marks. Marginal open tears and tears across folds – affecting text or decorations in some cases – professionally restored.

This ketubah is also documented on the NLI ketubah site, listing 990003035780205171.

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yaakov Gavriel son of Azriel Aryeh Trieste and Malkah Chanah (Regina, Nina) daughter of Yosef Costantini. Padua, Italy, 3rd Kislev 5611 [November 8, 1850].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Ketubah on large parchment sheet, with upper edges cut into a decorative pattern. Decorated with colorful illustrations and gold and silver colors, in patterns appearing in earlier ketubot from the Veneto region from the late 17th and 18th centuries. The ketubah is topped by a pair of angels blowing horns, flanking the coat of arms of the Trieste family – a crowned crane holding a stalk of grain in its beak. Under the coat of arms appear three allegorical illustrations: an artist figure with the caption "Artiesi" [arts], agricultural tools and a Staff of Hermes. Featured below is a golden sun with a human face, with verses from Tehillim incorporated between its rays. Between the geometrical and vegetal guilloches are incorporated four more allegorical illustrations depicting the four seasons. A pair of large pillars stand at the right and left margins, topped by two more symbolic illustrations and decorations across the margins, incorporating verses of blessing.

The ketubah text also mentions an Italian document made the previous day. At the edge of the ketubah text are signatures of witnesses and groom.

45.5X61 cm. Overall good condition. Clear and neat parchment. Pencil marks made by the artist are discernible in some places. Light stains and some creases.

Decorated paper ketubah. Timișoara (Temesvár), Hungarian Empire, present-day Romania, 14th Tamuz 5602 [June 22, 1842].

Ink and paint on paper.

Ketubah on a decorated rectangular paper sheet decorated with three massive pillars topped by colorful curtains, with matching flower arrangements at their bottom. The text is divided into two, as customary in Sephardic communities: the ketubah text to the right, and the Tenaim to the left. Below both columns are signatures of the groom and witnesses, including R. Tzvi Hirsch Oppenheim, Rabbi of Timișoara. The bottom right corner features the signature of the artist: "Moritz Bellenfanti, [1]842".

33.5X50 cm. Overall good condition. Many old folds, and tears to folds and margins – all professionally restored. Handwritten inscriptions to verso.