Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham son of Mordechai Levi Sonsin and Rosa daughter of Menachem Chai Levi Sonsin. Livorno, Italy, 11 Sivan 5515 [May 21, 1755].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a large parchment sheet, with its upper section elegantly shaped into a decorative arch. The text is written in two columns, in Sephardic semi-cursive script, with a few words in square script. On the right appears the text of the ketubah, and on the left appear the Tena'im (in accordance with the custom of the Sephardic Jews of Livorno). In the margins of the ketubah and Tena'im text appear the signatures of the groom and two witnesses: Yitzchak son of Avraham Kalo and Moshe son of Refael Baruch (in Hebrew). Under the signatures in the Tena'im column appear two more signatures in Latin characters: "David di Medina, Gabai de T. T." [David di Medina, Gabbai of the Talmud Torah], and a signature of the clerk: "Dauid [David] Nunes, Cancell. [Cancelliere]".
Finely decorated with bright colors, harmoniously integrated with gold and silver, in a symmetrical composition featuring three elegant pillars, vases and carefully rendered illustrations of large, graceful flowers of various kinds. Two fountains with spouts in the form of refined animal heads flank male and female figures surrounding a medallion (blank), adorned with a crown. Angels, bearing trumpets, hold a cartouche topped by another crown. A panel separating the text from the upper decorations bears the blessing: "with an auspicious sign and good luck" in luminous silver letters, while the bottom margins – between the bases of the pillars – are graced by two green parrots.

59X79 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and stains, mainly to bottom margins, for the most part not affecting text and illustrations. Tears, small pieces of paper missing and minute holes, professionally restored.

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035570205171.
For a similar ketubah and more information, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 83, 85 (KET 210, KET Schocken Library 14208/3).