Ketubah documenting the wedding of the bridegroom Aharon ben Ya’akov Binyamin de Pinto to the bride Rivkah bat Moshe Yeshurun Rodrigues "known as and signs Moshe Salvador." The Hague, 8th Shevat 1809.
Ink and paint on parchment.
Ketubah inscribed on parchment, documenting the wedding of a couple from two well-known families belonging to the Portuguese-Jewish exiles living in The Hague. Divided into two sections, separated by a ribbon-like illustration. The text of the ketubah appears in the upper section, whereas the lower section contains the "tna’im" ("terms" of the marriage agreement). The blessing "BeSiman Tov, " enclosed within a rhombus-shaped, jewel-like frame – sliced up into segments by a pair of arrows – is inscribed at the top of the ketubah. The frame is adorned with fine, delicate decorations that include wreaths of twisting, intertwined branches with leaves and flowers, a pair of pomegranates (or burning hearts), stalks of grain, ribbons, and blue curtains with dangling tassels.
The text of the ketubah mentions (in Hebrew) "the renowned local scribe by the name of Antonio van Ogtan, " who compiled the "tna’im."
A set of three signatures appears twice, once in the margin of the text of the ketubah, and once in the margin of the "tna’im." It includes the signature of the bridegroom (on the right, in Latin script), and those of the witnesses: David de Yitzhak Leon (to the left, in Hebrew script), and, underneath this, again in Latin script, "Js. Saruco." The latter probably refers to Yitzhak Saruk, a member of the family of Shlomo Saruk, rabbi of the Spanish-Portuguese Jewish community of The Hague in the years 1789-1852.
Two ketubot similar to this one are known to exist, undoubtedly created by the same artist. All three ketubot were composed (and the corresponding weddings took place) in the Hague in the first decade of the 19th century, and all three are connected by familial relationships: a ketubah dated 1804, (collection of Prof. Rabbi Meir Benayahu) documents the marriage of Moshe ben Ya’akov Binyamin de Pinto (brother of the aforementioned bridegroom) to the bride Sarah bat Moshe Yeshurun Rodrigues (sister of the aforementioned bride). A third ketubah belonging to this group (in the Mozes Heiman Gans Collection, Amsterdam, Item no. 5174.2/34) documents the marriage of Yitzhak ben Moshe de David Enriques de Kashto to the bride Rachel bat Moshe Yeshurun Rodrigues, another sister of the two aforementioned brides; this latter wedding took place on the same date as the one corresponding to the ketubah presented here, namely the 8th of Shevat, 5569 (January 25, 1809). The signatures of all the same witnesses appear on all three of these ketubot.

The bride Rivkah, and her sisters Sarah and Rachel – daughters of Moshe Yeshurun Rodrigues, known as "Salvador" – belonged to a distinguished, pedigreed family of Portuguese origin. Part of this family resided in England. The father, Moshe (Moses) Salvador, was the son of Jacob Salvador and nephew of Joseph Salvador. Both Jacob and Joseph were among the leaders of London’s Spanish-Portuguese Jewish community in the 18th century.

The de Pinto family was an equally well-established family of Sephardi Portuguese origin, which included prominent merchants and bankers. Aaron Joseph de Pinto, grandfather of the aforementioned bridegroom, Aharon (or Aaron, named after his grandfather), was a well-known collector of Judaica, and items from his collections can be found today in some of London’s most renowned museums. Two splendid manuscripts of the Book of Psalms – written and titled "the De Pinto Psalter" in his honor – are part of the René Braginsky Collection, Switzerland (Item nos. 62 and 222). Amsterdam’s "Huis de Pinto" (De Pinto Mansion), built by the family in the 17th century, remains intact till this day.

Approx. 40.5X29.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Dampstains, affecting text, and inkstains. Creases. Widthwise fold line. Framed, 42.5X31 cm (not examined outside of frame).

Provenance: The Richard Levy (1930-2019) Collection, Florida (label on back of frame).