Esther scroll in decorated filigree silver case. [Israel, ca. mid-20th century].

Ink, paint and gold on parchment; silver, filigree and granulation (with Israeli duty mark – "13" inside the letter Mem, in use from the 1950s); glass and turquoise marbles; gilt.

Small-format scroll, written on two parchment sheets sewn together, 15 text columns, 19 lines per column.

Scroll decorated throughout with colored and gilt illustrations, in a repeating pattern: helical pillars separating text columns, topped by angels holding baskets of flowers and pairs of birds. The upper and lower margins are decorated throughout the scroll with illustrations of flowers and fruits. An illustration of a scaffold-like ladder appears on the column with the names of the ten sons of Haman.

Placed in elegant silver case, inlaid with turquoise and pink glass marbles.

Height of parchment: 6 cm. Overall good condition. Light moisture damage, slightly affecting illustrations, mainly to upper and lower margins. Outer edge of first sheet significantly abraded and faded. Case: 16.5 cm. Good condition. Several missing pieces in filigree decorations.

For similar items, see: Sotheby's, New York, 17 December, 2008, Lot 40; Kedem, Auction 102, 7 May 2025, Lots 153-154; these scrolls have previously been dated to the 1920s-1930s, but their dating should probably be modified to ca. the 1950s. See also next two lots.

Provenance:

1. Oscar and Regina Gruss, New York.

2. Heirs of the above.