Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Mahalalel son of Eliyah of Castelnuovo and Fiore daughter of Mordechai Yaakov Chaim Baraffael. Rome, Italy, 26 Adar 5551 [March 2, 1791].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a rectangular parchment sheet, its lower margin distinctively shaped in a pointed shield form, characteristic of Roman ketubot. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, and also mentions the notary who effected the civil marriage, "De Santis". The signatures of the witnesses appear in the margins of the text: Yaakov son of Gershon Citone and Matzliach son of Mordechai Funaro.

The rich decorations of this ketubah attest to the high social status of the families of the bride and groom, which is confirmed by the large dowry of 2,000 scudi.

The decorations include colorful flower illustrations, some arranged in bouquets and others in triangles with impressive micrographic borders on all sides, comprising the full text of the Book of Esther. Other verses (from the Books of Ruth, Tehillim and Mishlei) adorn the outer frame. The top of the ketubah features a pair of angels holding cartouches with the family coats of arms: the bride's to the right and the groom's the left.

86X55 cm. Overall good condition. Folding marks. Stains, slightly affecting text. Tears and damage to margins, with small pieces of parchment missing, professionally restored.

For similar ketubot and further information, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, No. 135 (KET 44), and the René Braginsky Collection, K41. For the family coats of arms of the bride and groom, see: Jewish Museum of Rome, item 616 (Mappà Baraffael); Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia. [Turin]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 162, 167-168.

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035620205171.