Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Early Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Ferrara, 1656 – Of the Earliest Documented Ketubot from Ferrara – Reused as Binding / Fragment of Decorated Venetian Ketubah – Signatures of Ferrara Rabbis
Opening: $2,500
Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Two items from Italy, 17th and 18th centuries:
1. Ketubah for the wedding of Eliah son of Refael Shmuel Haggio with Batsheva daughter of Azariah Chaim Haggio. Ferrara, Friday, 9th Shevat (February 4) 1656.
Decorated parchment ketubah – one of the earliest recorded ketubot from Ferrara – which was reused as a binding.
The ketubah text is written in Sephardic square script, within an architectonic frame. Signatures of the witnesses, Ferrara rabbis, appear below: "Menachem Cases son of R. Elchanan" (1602-1664, served earlier as rabbi in Corfu and Modena) and "Paltiah son of R. Chananiah Monselice".
The ketubah is bordered by a broad frame, composed of symmetrical geometric guilloches featuring alternating illustrations of birds of prey and foliage. The margins are decorated with a repeating pattern of clovers and knobs. The marginal decorations incorporate many verses of blessing, from the Priestly Blessing and "Eshet Chayil". Above and below the text of the ketubah appear verses of blessing (Psalm 128) in large red, yellow and brown letters; and the four corners contain initials of additional verses of blessing (see Hebrew description). Some illustrations and verses are decorated in red ink.
The Haggios were an important family in Ferrara. In his Meor Einayim, R. Azariah de Rossi mentions R. Yitzchak Haggio "the pious Spaniard" of Ferrara, who immigrated to Eretz Israel. After his passing, his widow returned to Ferrara, to the home of her elder son R. Yom Tov Haggio, where R. Azariah saw an original ancient shekel coin she had brought from Eretz Israel.
Approx. 58X39 cm. Fair-good condition. The ketubah served as book binding, and its margins were trimmed accordingly: right part lacking and additional pieces missing in all four corners. Creases, stains and folding marks. Several holes, affecting text. Many pinholes across outlines of illustrations, apparently as an aid to copying them.
For a similar ketubah from Ferrara (fragmentary), decorated by the same artist, see NLI catalogue, item 997009840836405171.
2. Fragmentary decorated ketubah. [Presumably Venice, 18th century].
The left-hand margin of a ketubah of the Venetian type (apparently from Venice or another community under its influence): the fragment contains sections of verses and is decorated with vegetal patterns, two medallions with pastoral scenes (grain and grape harvests) and schematic illustrations of a lion and a figure in a dress. For a Venetian ketubah with similar illustrations, see NLI catalogue, item 990003035560205171.
55X15 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, creases and small tears. Ink faded.
Our thanks to Prof. Shalom Sabar for his assistance in preparing this description.
Illustrated Manuscripts on Parchment
Illustrated Manuscripts on Parchment