Illuminated plaque with the Tenu Shirah piyyut for Purim. [Sanandaj, Iranian Kurdistan], 1864.
Ink and paint on paper.
Illuminated wall plaque, one of the earliest known illustrated leaves from Iranian Kurdistan. The plaque is replete with colorful foliate and geometric patterns; the ornamentation style and orange and green palette are typical of manuscripts produced in Western Iran, also characteristic of manuscripts produced in Iraq.
The text of the piyyut Tenu Shirah, customarily sung by Kurdish Jews on Purim before the Megillah reading, is inscribed in four frames designed as pointed arches (the piyyut forms an acrostic of the name of the author of the piyyut). Two Menorahs occupy the center of the plaque, each topped by the inscription "Shiviti Hashem LeNegdi Tamid": the upper menorah is a LaMenatze'ach Menorah (Psalm 67), while the lower one comprises the words of Ana BeKoach. The plaque is dated at the base of the lower Menorah, which is also flanked by a dedication.
For further information: The Jews of Kurdistan: Daily Life, Customs, Arts and Crafts. Jerusalem, the Israel Museum, 1981, pp. 232-236; Sinai, issue 98, 1986, pp. 74-75.

43X35 cm. Overall good condition. Folding marks, creases and marks. Minor tears to folds, slightly affecting text and illustrations. Framed.

Reference and exhibitions:
1. Et-Mol, vol. 208. Jerusalem, Yad Ben Zvi, 2009 (illustrated on cover) (Hebrew).
2. Light and Shadows, The Story of Iran and the Jews. Tel Aviv, Beit HaTfutsot, 2010, p. 48 (illustrated) (Hebrew and English).
3. Leaving, Never to Return!, curated by Dana Avrish. Tel Aviv, Eretz Israel Museum, 2019, p. 139 (Hebrew).
4. Light and Shadows, edited by David Yeroushalmi. Los Angeles, Fowler Museum of UCLA, 2012, p. 57.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 039.011.019.
The plaque is documented on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 48988.