Esther Scroll, housed in a decorated silver case. [Russia or the Caucasus, late 19th century].

Silver, cast, turned, engraved, and pierced (unmarked); niello; ink on parchment.

Scroll inscribed on three parchment sheets sewn one to the other (+ one small decorated parchment sheet pasted to the beginning of the first large sheet, and an additional small sheet sewn at the end of the scroll); 27 text columns, usually 13 lines per column.

A smaller, decorated parchment sheet is sewn to the beginning of the first scroll sheet, with vertically written blessings recited before the Megillah reading, in red ornamental vegetal design. A small, similarly decorated piece is sewn to the end of the scroll, bearing the opening words of the blessing “Harav et riveinu”, recited after the reading.

Housed in a cylindrical silver case, pierced and decorated with niello vegetal motifs. The upper lid is engraved in Hebrew: "Megillat Esther Amalkah [!]"; the bottom lid is inscribed in Cyrillic: “Letter of Queen Esther.”

Matching silver handle, topped with a ball and floral ornament.

Parchment height: 7 cm. Fair condition. Beginning of the first and blessings sheets are torn, worn, and partially missing. Tear at the end of the third parchment sheet. Final blessings panel rolls with difficulty. Case height (including handle): 24 cm. Good condition. Metal strip attached to the first sheet is not original or may be partially missing.