Decorated Esther scroll. [Israel, ca. 1950s].

Ink and paint on parchment; carved wood.

Exceptionally large Esther scroll, written on three parchment sheets sewn one to the other; eight text columns, 43 lines per column, with tagin on designated letters.

Hand-decorated throughout in soft tones of yellow, brown, red, pink, green, light blue, purple and gold. The illustrations feature architectural arches and columns incorporating the symbols of the Twelve Zodiac signs within oval medallions (in some cases two signs appear together, one above the other). Sewn onto a large wooden handle, housed in a custom leather-covered case with openings for the ends of the handle.

Parchment height: 49 cm. Overall good condition. Minor stains, creases, and some fading to ink and pigments. Handle height: 67 cm. Case dimensions: 51X12X10 cm.

See also, previous lot and following lot.

Manuscript, verses and psalms, passages of korbanot and special prayer for a woman. [Italy, 18th/19th century].

Italian square script. Color illustrations and decorations. On front endpaper, illustration of "Torah crown". On back endpaper, illustration of basket with crown, inside of which is the name of the woman: "Sarah Silvia of Modena".

Includes various verses and psalms from Tehillim, the passages of the Tamid and Olah offerings, and a special prayer for a woman.

[20] leaves. Thick paper. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Original leather binding, repaired.

Manuscript. Minchah and Maariv and Kabbalat Shabbat. [Baghdad, ca. turn of 20th century].

Miniature format. Oriental script, square and semi-cursive (characteristic of Baghdad), written in black ink and some colored ink. Initial panels and decorations in color. All pages bordered by frames (colored pink, brown and yellow). Floral decorations in several places. Most pages begin with dome-shaped text: "Know before Whom you stand…". Decorated title page in middle of manuscript.

Includes weekday Minchah and Maariv prayers, and beginning of an Arabic translation of Shir HaShirim (with divisional title page; after which leaves are missing), and Kabbalat Shabbat (interrupted at beginning of Maariv for Shabbat). Kabbalistic kavanot incorporated within text and in margins.

[18] leaves (including 3 blank leaves). Lacking leaves in middle and end. 10 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Several tears. Worming. New binding.

Manuscript, piyyutim and songs, for various occasions. [Persia, 19th century].

Ledger format (tall and narrow). Oriental (Persian) script. Fine color illustrations (flowers, branches and peacocks). One page almost fully illustrated. Decorations to several opening panels. Includes piyyutim of R. Pinchas Chariri, R. Eliyah Sanai and other liturgical poets from the Persian region (including piyyutim not recorded by Davidson in Otzar HaPiyyut VehaShirah, see enclosed material).

Piyyutim for circumcision (first page), Simchat Torah (p. 33b), Shabbat (p. 37a) and conclusion of Shabbat (p. 41a).

[47] leaves. Height: 18 cm. Width: 9 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Light wear. Several tears. Lengthy tear to one leaf, slightly affecting text. New binding.

Manuscript, Passover Haggadah. [Morocco, 20th century].

Square script. Fine color decorations, characteristic of Morocco, "carpet" pages and other decorations.

[13] leaves. Lacking leaves at end and middle. 13.5 cm. Fair-poor condition. Many dampstains. Tears, wear and defects, affecting text and decorations. Worming. New leather binding, with blemishes.