Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 314
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Parchment manuscript scroll, Ilan Sefirot. [North Africa, ca. 18th century].
Ink on parchment. Western script (square and cursive). Three membranes sewn together; with detailed illustrations and diagrams of the Sefirot, Partzufim and Hishtalshelut HaOlamot according to the kabbalistic teachings of the Arizal.
The present Ilan's content corresponds to Ilanot from the school of R. Moshe Zacuto (the Ramaz) in Italy, incorporating excerpts from R. Yaakov Tzemach and Maharam Poppers (listed by Prof. Chajes in his book as "Poppers-Zacuto-Tzemach Ilan").
The present manuscript is a detailed and complete Ilan Sefirot, apparently written in North Africa. No Ilan of this kind is documented by Chajes, the Ilanot Project or elsewhere.
A similar Ilan to the present one, also from North Africa and apparently contemporaneous, was auctioned by Kedem, Auction 94 Part 2, Lot 146.
Parchment scroll (three membranes sewn together). Length of scroll: approx. 158 cm. Width of scroll: approx. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dark stains. Faded or deleted ink in several places. Tears and defects. Open tears, affecting text, mainly to last membrane, repaired.
Ilan Sefirot
Visual diagrams of Hishtalshelut HaOlamot, known as the Ilan Sefirot, have been known since the early period of kabbalah. Many kabbalists composed and drew detailed Ilanot Sefirot for themselves. These were generally inscribed on long scrolls made of parchment or paper. As Lurianic kabbalah spread and gained popularity, these Ilanot came to reflect the complexity of this stream of kabbalistic thought, embodying ideas of the specific schools from which they originated.
Eminent Italian kabbalist R. Menachem Azariah (the Rama) of Fano describes the kabbalists who drew Ilanot on scrolls as follows: "A custom of the ancestors transmitted to their descendants is that they marked the names and bynames of the Sefirot on large scrolls which they called Ilanot" (Paamon VeRimon, Amsterdam 1608, p. 17a).
The Ilanot are highly complex graphic compositions, usually masterfully integrating text and illustrations. The Ilanot visually represent Hishtalshelut HaOlamot (Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah), the structure of the Sefirot in each of the Olamot and the mutual influences between the Sefirot, the Partzufim of the Olam HaAtzilut, Sarim, Heichalot and more. These are all integrated with paragraphs of text. Thus, the Ilanot became standalone works, representing the great complexity of the process of emanation according to the various views.
The Ilanot Sefirot prepared by kabbalists were not made purely for rote study, but were also a ritual tool by which the kabbalists would mentally depict the structure of the Olamot during their prayer and spiritual service. Later on, Ilan scrolls served as amulets and as a Segulah for the owner's protection and success.
Over many years of research into Kabbalah, the Ilanot were almost entirely ignored, and they were hardly studied and documented at all. Only in the last decade did research develop, gaining momentum with the Ilanot Project under the leadership of Prof. J.H. Chajes, whose comprehensive book on the subject was recently published. See at length: J.H. Chajes, The Kabbalistic Tree, Pennsylvania University Press, 2022.
Category
Kabbalistic Amulets and Ilanot Sefirot
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $500
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Lengthy parchment manuscript – Ilan Sefirot. [North Africa, 18th/19th century].
Ink on parchment. Lengthy parchment, composed of four membranes sewn together, with detailed illustrations and diagrams of the Sefirot, Partzufim and Hishtalshelut HaOlamot according to the kabbalistic teachings of the Arizal, with some commentary. Western square script.
The present Ilan derives from the type edited by R. Yitzchak son of R. Michael Kopio (Rivmak, active first half of 18th century). For a biography of R. Yitzchak Kopio, see: R. Moshe Hillel, Over LaSofer, R. Yitzchak b.R. Michael Kopio, Kehillot Yisrael, Jerusalem 2016; on his Ilanot Sefirot, see there, pp. 39 ff.
Rivmak's Ilanot are designed with a two-part division, with charts and illustrations to the left and explanatory paragraphs and selections to the right, many signed with R. Yitzchak's initials.
For another Ilan of this type, see Kedem catalog 104 Part 1, lot 2, and a corresponding copying, apparently produced by the same scribe, NLI Ms. 9790=4, formerly Gross Collection – Tel Aviv, no. 028.012.002. See description in Hillel, ibid., p. 40; and Prof. J.H. Chajes (referenced below), pp. 261-264, 296.
The present Ilan is an abridged version, with the diagrams and illustrations but without most of the commentary. The present Ilan appears to have been produced by same scribe as the above Ilanot.
Another abridged Ilan, apparently also by the same scribe is NLI Ms. 9814=4, formerly Gross Collection – Tel Aviv, no. 028.012.008.
Prof Chajes (ibid., pp. 296-296) states that the abridged Ilanot served as amulets.
In several places, handwritten additions by another writer.
Parchment scroll (four membranes sewn together). Length of scroll: approx. 270 cm. Width of scroll: approx. 8 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and creases.
Ilan Sefirot
Visual diagrams of Hishtalshelut HaOlamot, known as the Ilan Sefirot, have been known since the early period of kabbalah. Many kabbalists composed and drew detailed Ilanot Sefirot for themselves. These were generally inscribed on long scrolls made of parchment or paper. As Lurianic kabbalah spread and gained popularity, these Ilanot came to reflect the complexity of this stream of kabbalistic thought, embodying ideas of the specific schools from which they originated.
Eminent Italian kabbalist R. Menachem Azariah (the Rama) of Fano describes the kabbalists who drew Ilanot on scrolls as follows: "A custom of the ancestors transmitted to their descendants is that they marked the names and bynames of the Sefirot on large scrolls which they called Ilanot" (Paamon VeRimon, Amsterdam 1608, p. 17a).
The Ilanot are highly complex graphic compositions, usually masterfully integrating text and illustrations. The Ilanot visually represent Hishtalshelut HaOlamot (Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah), the structure of the Sefirot in each of the Olamot and the mutual influences between the Sefirot, the Partzufim of the Olam HaAtzilut, Sarim, Heichalot and more. These are all integrated with paragraphs of text. Thus, the Ilanot became standalone works, representing the great complexity of the process of emanation according to the various views.
The Ilanot Sefirot prepared by kabbalists were not made purely for rote study, but were also a ritual tool by which the kabbalists would mentally depict the structure of the Olamot during their prayer and spiritual service. Later on, Ilan scrolls served as amulets and as a Segulah for the owner's protection and success.
Over many years of research into Kabbalah, the Ilanot were almost entirely ignored, and they were hardly studied and documented at all. Only in the last decade did research develop, gaining momentum with the Ilanot Project under the leadership of Prof. J.H. Chajes, whose comprehensive book on the subject was recently published. See at length: J.H. Chajes, The Kabbalistic Tree, Pennsylvania University Press, 2022.
Category
Kabbalistic Amulets and Ilanot Sefirot
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $3,250
Including buyer's premium
Ilan Sefirot amulet. [North Africa or Asia, ca. early 20th century].
Handwritten on a long parchment strip. With detailed illustrations and diagrams of the Sefirot, Partzufim and Hishtalshelut HaOlamot according to the kabbalistic teachings of the Arizal.
Designated as an amulet in its last line, which declares it to be a Segulah for everything: for gaining favor, success, the evil eye, a birthing woman, demons and plague; it is to be placed in a silver case.
Ilanot of this type were effectively used as amulets, placed in leather or silver cases and carried on one's person. On the use of the Ilan Sefirot as an amulet, see Prof. Chajes (referenced below), chapter 6, pp. 291 ff.
Ilan Sefirot amulets identical to the present one, apparently produced by the same scribe, include NLI Ms. 9817=4, formerly Gross Collection – Tel Aviv, no. 028.012.017; and NLI Ms. 9810=4, formerly Gross Collection – Tel Aviv, no. 028.012.013; and the amulet appearing in Kedem catalog 85, lot 336.
Parchment strip. Length: approx. 91 cm. Width: approx. 4 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and creases.
Ilan Sefirot
Visual diagrams of Hishtalshelut HaOlamot, known as the Ilan Sefirot, have been known since the early period of kabbalah. Many kabbalists composed and drew detailed Ilanot Sefirot for themselves. These were generally inscribed on long scrolls made of parchment or paper. As Lurianic kabbalah spread and gained popularity, these Ilanot came to reflect the complexity of this stream of kabbalistic thought, embodying ideas of the specific schools from which they originated.
Eminent Italian kabbalist R. Menachem Azariah (the Rama) of Fano describes the kabbalists who drew Ilanot on scrolls as follows: "A custom of the ancestors transmitted to their descendants is that they marked the names and bynames of the Sefirot on large scrolls which they called Ilanot" (Paamon VeRimon, Amsterdam 1608, p. 17a).
The Ilanot are highly complex graphic compositions, usually masterfully integrating text and illustrations. The Ilanot visually represent Hishtalshelut HaOlamot (Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah), the structure of the Sefirot in each of the Olamot and the mutual influences between the Sefirot, the Partzufim of the Olam HaAtzilut, Sarim, Heichalot and more. These are all integrated with paragraphs of text. Thus, the Ilanot became standalone works, representing the great complexity of the process of emanation according to the various views.
The Ilanot Sefirot prepared by kabbalists were not made purely for rote study, but were also a ritual tool by which the kabbalists would mentally depict the structure of the Olamot during their prayer and spiritual service. Later on, Ilan scrolls served as amulets and as a Segulah for the owner's protection and success.
Over many years of research into Kabbalah, the Ilanot were almost entirely ignored, and they were hardly studied and documented at all. Only in the last decade did research develop, gaining momentum with the Ilanot Project under the leadership of Prof. J.H. Chajes, whose comprehensive book on the subject was recently published. See at length: J.H. Chajes, The Kabbalistic Tree, Pennsylvania University Press, 2022.
Category
Kabbalistic Amulets and Ilanot Sefirot
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $4,250
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn together, 17 lines per column. Rolled on wooden handle.
Edges of first membrane artistically cut. At top of membrane, illustrated cartouche enclosing a family coat of arms: a hand holding a water bottle and pouring it into a bowl (a Levitical symbol). Inside the cartouche (over the family coat of arms), the scribe signs his name with the date of writing: "Handwritten by me, Yitzchak Levi, 1768".
Enclosed with the scroll is a parchment leaf with the blessings recited before and after the Megillah reading and the piyyut Korei Megillah by R. Avraham ibn Ezra.
Height of parchment: approx. 26 cm. Maximum height with handle: 38 cm. Blessings leaf: approx. 26X36 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains in several places. Faded or deleted words in several places. Corrections in a later hand. Bottom of wooden handle lacking.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $700
Sold for: $3,000
Including buyer's premium
Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Esther scroll in large format, inscribed on 3 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 16 columns, with 25 rows per column. "Tagim" (decorative "crownlets") over designated letters.
All columns of text are enclosed within rectangular decorative frames, painted in gold (which appears greenish in faded areas). The leading edge of the scroll has been artfully cut, and a slender parchment pull tab is attached to it. Scroll wound around a tall wooden scroll rod with long handles at either end.
The scroll is accompanied by a sheet of blessings which includes the blessings recited with the reading of the "Megillah, " as well as the "piyyut" (liturgical poem) "Korei Megillah, " composed by the renowned 11-12th-century Torah scholar and biblical commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra; the texts are enclosed within four illuminated frames in the form of arched architectonic gates with pillars, and adorned in vegetal patterns painted purple, yellow, green, and red.
An ownership notation (Hebrew) appears at the base of the central pillar: "Acquired by purchase [i.e., legally owned] by / M. Gershon bar / Shemuel HaKohen, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him / Year 5540 to the Creation [1780]". (Apparently, a different name had originally appeared here.)
Height of parchment sheets: 18 cm. Height of scroll rod (incl. handle): 40.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and tear (mended) to first parchment sheet. Stains and faded paint, occasionally affecting text. Tears to third sheet, some lengthy, professionally mended. Faded paint. Scroll rod and handles more recent. Sheet of blessings: 47.5X17.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, creases, and wear, with damage to text and illuminations. Several small tears, professionally mended.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original). Miniature format. First sheet cut decoratively at edge, with fabric lace for fastening.
Written in Italian Stam script, with serifs (Tagim) on 8 long and narrow parchment membranes, 61 text columns, 6 lines per column.
Miniature scroll with an unusual layout. Upper edges throughout the scroll are bordered by a wide rectangular strip in a wave pattern, against a purple background. Each column is separated by pink columns standing on wide square bases. The scroll is accompanied by an original parchment leaf with Megillah reading blessings, decorated in like manner, with three pages colored light blue.
Height of parchment: 8.5 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 23 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $400
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy, 19th century or earlier].
Ink and paint on thin parchment; gold color; rolled on carved wooden handle. Small format.
Written in Italian Stam script, with serifs (Tagim), on 9 parchment membranes, 51 text columns, 14 lines per column. The first column contains the Megillah reading blessings, and the last column contains Asher Heni, Arur Haman and the piyyut Korei Megillah.
All text columns bordered in gold-colored rectangles (where faded, the gold appears in a greenish or bluish shade). Colorful decorations between columns in two alternating vegetal patterns. Rolled on wooden handle (apparently original) topped with a crown-like decoration.
Height of parchment: 10.5 cm. Maximum height (including parchment): 22 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Europe?, 19th century or earlier].
Ink on parchment, in small format; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original).
Written in fine Stam script (Vellish) with serifs (Tagim), on two parchment membranes, 15 text columns, 23 lines per column. HaMelech scroll (most columns begin with the word HaMelech). Each HaMelech is topped by various decorations – a crown or vegetal patterns.
In several places, Holy Names are emphasized in the scroll (following a common kabbalistic-Chassidic custom to emphasize letters of words whose initials form Holy Names).
Height of parchment: 9.7 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 26 cm. Fair-good condition. Dark stains, wear and creases. Deleted letters and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Lithuania or Jerusalem? Ca. 19th century; later decorations].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original).
Written in neat Ashkenazic Stam script (Beit Yosef), with serifs (Tagim), on five parchment membranes, 17 text columns, 6 lines per column.
The scroll is hand-decorated throughout with illustrations, including arches and pillars. The bottom margins feature medallions incorporating the twelve zodiacs and illustrations relating to the Purim story (the illustrations appear to have been added in Jerusalem, ca. 1940s-1950s).
Height of parchment: 27.5 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 51 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, wear and creases. Tears, repaired (to verso of parchment). Deleted letters and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $5,500
Including buyer's premium
Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced handle.
Esther scroll written on three parchment membranes sewn together, 15 text columns, 20 lines per column. HaMelech scroll (most columns begin with the word HaMelech), written in Sephardic Stam (Vellish) script, without serifs (Tagim).
The scroll is decorated throughout in yellow, green, blue and purple, characteristic of the Ottoman Empire and inspired by Islamic art. The first text column is surrounded by a multifoil arch. The margins of the scroll and other columns are surrounded by rich, colorful frames, decorated with repeating symmetric floral patterns. A fabric sheet with a lace for fastening is sewn into the edge of the first parchment membrane.
The scroll is rolled on an original handle, with the upper part stylized as a two-story tower, topped by a crescent-like decorative element.
Height of parchment: 15 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 33 cm. Fair-good condition. Slight stains and defects. Open tear to outer edge of scroll (repaired with parchment and paint). Margins of last membrane mounted on new paper sewn onto handle. Tears and wear to fabric sheet at edge of scroll.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans], 5642 [1882].
Cast silver; silver, repoussé and engraved (unmarked); ink on parchment.
Esther scroll inscribed on 4 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 20 columns (of varying widths), with 17-18 rows per column. "Tagim" (decorative "crownlets") over designated letters in top lines of each column, and in column containing the names of Haman’s ten sons.
Scroll housed in stout cylindrical silver case adorned with a large Star of David and with vegetal patterns. Surmounted with flower-shaped ornament topped with a small bird. The owner’s initials – "JNA" – are engraved onto one end of the pull bar, and the Hebrew year, "5642 = 82" appears at the other end. Long scrolling crank handle.
Height of parchment sheets: 9.5 cm. Height of case (incl. handle): 26 cm. Overall good condition. Joints of case somewhat loose. Small ring attached to bird on top is perhaps indicative of missing ornament. Minor stains and wear to parchment sheets.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, late 19th century].
Cast silver; silver, repoussé and engraved (unmarked); ink on parchment.
"HaMelekh" ("The King") Esther scroll (i.e., most columns headed with the word "HaMelekh"), inscribed on 7 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 19 columns, with 18-22 rows per column.
Esther scroll housed in small, cylindrical silver case adorned with recurrent patterns of leaves and flowers on diagonal bands. Shallow dome cap surmounted by spherical ornament. Short scrolling crank handle.
Height of parchment sheets: 8 cm. Height of case (incl. handle): 14 cm. Overall good condition. Several tears to parchment, and stains, causing minor damage to text. Pull bar may not be original, or may have been sewn back onto parchment scroll. Thin metal rod inserted to connect handle (original handle may have been exchanged).
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
