Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe son of Yitzchak Curiel and Esther daughter of Yaakov Canpos [Campos]. Ragusa, Republic of Ragusa (present-day Dubrovnik, Croatia), 14 Shevat 5423, [January 22, 1663].

Ink and paint on parchment.

The ketubah is written on a large parchment sheet, its upper margin elegantly shaped in an elaborate undulating pattern, crowned by a trefoil finial. The text is written in two columns, with the ketubah text on the right in Sephardic semi-cursive script, and the Tena'im on the left in Sephardic cursive script. A few words are written in square letters. In the margins of the ketubah and Tena'im text appear the signatures of the groom and "Salomon Maestro"(?) in Latin script, next to the signatures of the witnesses (in Hebrew): Moshe ibn Nachmias, "scribe and witness", and Moshe Chabilio.
The ketubah is ornamented with a symmetrical composition comprising two arches rising over three large, decorated pillars, and illustrations of large, colorful flowers and birds. At the top stands a large vase topped with a crown. The bottom margins incorporate two swans, one rendered in white and the other in black.
A Jewish presence in Ragusa (Dubrovnik) has been recorded from the 13th century. In 1546, a community of under 50 Jewish families lived in it – most of them of Sephardic origin – who directed trade between the Ottoman Empire and Northern Italy. The few documented ketubot from Ragusa bear testament to signs of influence from the traditions of design that prevailed in Northern and Central Italy, most notably those of the Veneto region, and Venice in particular.

78X51 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains and light fading of ink, mainly to Upper part. Folding marks. Minor tears and damage, professionally restored.

The NLI Ketubot website records only seven ketubot from the Republic of Ragusa (including the present ketubah, listing 990003035750205171); the present ketubah is the earliest. For more information and comparison, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 227-231 (KET 208, KET 3, KET 30, KET 11, KET 39).