Ketubah documenting the marriage of the groom Masoud son of Avraham son of Masoud Ben Bonan, to the bride Jimol daughter of Moshe Rafael son of Yosef Taurel. Gibraltar, 12th Tishrei 1833.
Ink and paint on parchment.
Illuminated parchment ketubah, with large, striking architectural illustration. The ketubah text is scribed in brown ink in the center of the rectangular parchment leaf, within a remarkable, masterfully executed architectonic border. The border is designed both as a theater stage and Torah ark, with the effective use of perspective techniques giving it a sense of depth and distance. A pair of birds bear a square frame in their beaks, containing the ketubah text. The Tablets of the Law inscribed with the Ten Commandments and topped with a large crown surmount the architectonic border. The leaf is enclosed in a foliate border on three sides, while a dark line forms the lower edge, representing the edge of the stage or floor. Witnesses' signatures at the foot of the ketubah text – Shalom Aflalo (right), Chaim Bibas (left), and the groom (center).
Although the present ketubah documents the marriage of a North-African Sephardic couple, the European influence is dominant, in accordance with the geographic location of Gibraltar, which borders both Europe and North Africa (and was under British rule at the time). The style of the ketubah is unusual in comparison with most known ketubot from Gibraltar (usually decorated with wreaths), and in the use of the horizontal format.
For comparison, see: The René Braginsky Collection, no. K26; The British Library, London, Add. Ch. 1998; Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto, Reuben & Helene Dennis Museum, no. CR 643.

78X55 cm. Good condition. Some stains and creases. Minor tears, professionally restored.

Exhibitions:
* Palabra en su hora es oro: el refrán judeo-español del Norte de Marruecos, by Tamar Alexander-Frizer and Yaakov Bentolila. Jerusalem, Yad Ben Zvi, 2008, p. 380 (Hebrew).
* Reise an kein Ende der Welt. Vienna, Jüdisches Museum Wien, 2001, pp. 104-105.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 035.012.011.
The ketubah is documented on the NLI website and on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 48904.