Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of David son of Yedidiah Chaim Bondì and Esther daughter of Avraham Shmuel Modigliano [Modigliani]. Rome, Italy, 13th Adar 5572 [February 26, 1812].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Ketubah on a large rectangular sheet of parchment, with bottom margins cut in the shape of a reversed pointed archway, characteristic of ketubot from Rome. The text of the ketubah appears in the center in square letters, with the signatures of the witnesses below: Yitzchak son of Yaakov Citone and Moshe Yitzchak son of Mordechai Elisha Castelnuovo. Between the first and second line, the word "seventy" is added to the date in smaller letters. The space for the name of the notary is left blank.

Decorated with colorful flower illustrations and repeating vegetal patterns, incorporating verses of blessing. The floral decorations and verses of blessing are separated by tens of micrographic arches incorporating more blessings (Sheva Berachot and more) and psalms.

The top of the ketubah features two illustrations on Biblical themes alluding to the names of the bride and groom: to the right King Ahasuerus extends his scepter to Esther, and to the left David holds Goliath's head. Between the two illustrations is a decorated cartouche with the Bondì family coat of arms – the groom's family – a rooster gazing at the sun; on the bottom margins is another cartouche, set between two cornucopias, with the Modigliano (Modigliani) family coat of arms – the bride's family – a rooster standing atop a three-peaked mountain, holding a branch, with a crescent to the left and a star to the right.

51.5X93 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and some stains. Light damage to decorations, mainly on margins. Old tears and damage to margins of parchment sheet, professionally restored. Two slits to edge of bottom corner.

For similar ketubot and further information, see: Shalom Sabar, The Art of the Ketubbah, Vol. I. New York: Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 2022, no. 135 (KET 44), and René Braginsky collection, K41. For the family coats of arms of the bride and groom, see: Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia, [Torino]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 163, 185-186.