Torah scroll. [Tunis, 18th/19th century]. Placed in a case, with a pair of finials and a pointer. [Iraq or Iran, first decades of the 20th century].
Velvet-covered wood; silver and sheet silver, repoussé, cast, engraved and soldered; paper; parchment; ink.
The Torah scroll is written on parchment, in a script characteristic of Tunis, 19th century (see enclosed expert's report).
The case is lined with crimson velvet and adorned with three belts of sheet silver attached with rivets. The middle belt has a repoussé of floral ornamentation and the two flanking belts bear inscriptions of dedication: "This case and its Torah scroll were made by the woman Vatzha daughter of Shimon Avraham Nissim [… 1936?]", "It is written that wherever the owners of the Torah scroll wish to take and place it, they are allowed to do so". Attached along the top edges of the case is a silver "wall" made like roses. The top of the case is crowned with a silver-plated finial with bells. Paper sheets are pasted on the inside of the case, with a dedication almost identical to the dedication inscribed on the belts (one is placed behind a pane, another bearing the name of the donor is mostly lacking), surrounded with colored paper strips. The inside of the case is lined with a (late) floral-patterned green synthetic fabric. A small silver hook which locks the case is attached on the outside.
A pair of finials adorned with chains with dangling bells sit atop the case, with engraved dedications: "Eliyahu Mizrahi, died 15th Tevet 1914", "For the soul of Sedera daughter of Zaki Natan".
A simple silver unadorned pointer is enclosed with the Torah scroll.
Height of the parchment membranes of the Torah scroll: 48 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Damage, tears and holes in a number of places.
Height of case: 100 cm, diameter: 28 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Dents, breaks and lacking breaks to silver ornamentation. Unravelling, open tears and damage to velvet lining. The inner fabric lining is unprofessionally glued to the case and its edges are cut and unfinished. The left paper sheet is damaged and mostly lacking. The colored paper strips are damaged and lacking. A (new) small metal plate is nailed onto the top of the case.
Height of finials: approx. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Corrosion. Dents. Breaks. Soldering repairs. Lacking and torn chains and lacking bells.
Pointer: 28 cm. Good condition. Dents.

Early Esther scroll. [Bohemia, ca. late 16th century or early 17th century].
Early script characteristic of late 16th or early 17th century Bohemia. 14 lines per column. The first membrane is lacking and was replaced by a later membrane written in typical 18th century German script (the number of lines is not uniform and it is apparent that it was written as a replacement).
Originally, the scroll's layout varied from the tradition accepted in recent centuries, with lacking and additional parshiot; however, these were revised at the time the first membrane was replaced, in an similar script (see the enclosed expert's report).
Height of parchment: 17.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, creases and wear.

Esther scroll. [North Italy, ca. 18th century].
Vellish script, in a style which combines Western-European and Italian scripts. The parchment processing is typical of Italy. Apparently, the scroll originated in Northern Italy. 31 lines per column. Rolled on a wooden roller.
Height of parchment: 28 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Tear (repaired) to top of first membrane, affecting text. Faded ink. Break to wooden roller.

Esther scroll. [Europe, 20th century].
Small format. Smeared parchment. Small Vellish script. Approximately 20 lines per column. Rolled on a wooden roller.
In a number of places in this scroll, letters alluding to Holy Names at the beginnings and ends of words are enlarged (the Name of G-d is not mentioned throughout the Esther scroll, but allusions can be found to His Names. A common Chassidic-Kabbalistic practice is to stress the Names in the scroll; however, according to the opinion of the Vilna Gaon, only letters enlarged by tradition may be enlarged).
Height of parchment: 10.5 cm. Height of roller: 28 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Dark stains to margins. Tear to top of first membrane, not affecting text.