Esther scroll, placed in decorated silver case and original box. Greece / Ottoman Empire, [late 19th or early 20th century].

Ink on parchment; silver: filigree and granulation; gilt; fabric; embossed iron sheet box.

Esther scroll, inscribed on seven parchment membranes sewn together, 22 columns of text, usually 18 lines per column.

Placed in silver case coated in reddish fabric, decorated on exterior with meticulous high-quality filigree and granulation – some gilt – in rich vegetal patterns, some of which include 4-5 layers of silver strings in complex three-dimensional patterns. The case is topped with crown-like ornamentations, a flower-like ornamentation and flower sepals holding filigree pendants.

The case is placed in the original iron sheet box, with matching decorations embossed on the cover.

The Jewish Museum of Greece collection has several scrolls with similar cases; see also: Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 40969 (Gross Family Collection).

Height of parchment: 12 cm. Length of scroll: approx. 246 cm. Height of case: 14.5 cm; iron box: 42.5 cm, with light damage. Overall good condition. Light damage. One filigree pendant in upper ornamentation lacking.