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Lot 15 Important Early Parchment Ketubah, Large and Decorated – Ragusa (Dubrovnik, Croatia), 1663 – Earliest Documented Ketubah from Ragusa

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe son of Yitzchak Curiel and Esther daughter of Yaakov Canpos [Campos]. R

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Important Early Parchment Ketubah, Large and Decorated – Ragusa (Dubrovnik, Croatia), 1663 – Earliest Documented Ketubah from Ragusa

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $20,000

Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000

Sold for: $27,500

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe son of Yitzchak Curiel and Esther daughter of Yaakov Canpos [Campos]. Ragusa, Republic of Ragusa (present-day Dubrovnik, Croatia), 14 Shevat 5423, [January 22, 1663].

Ink and paint on parchment.

The ketubah is written on a large parchment sheet, its upper margin elegantly shaped in an elaborate undulating pattern, crowned by a trefoil finial. The text is written in two columns, with the ketubah text on the right in Sephardic semi-cursive script, and the Tena'im on the left in Sephardic cursive script. A few words are written in square letters. In the margins of the ketubah and Tena'im text appear the signatures of the groom and "Salomon Maestro"(?) in Latin script, next to the signatures of the witnesses (in Hebrew): Moshe ibn Nachmias, "scribe and witness", and Moshe Chabilio.
The ketubah is ornamented with a symmetrical composition comprising two arches rising over three large, decorated pillars, and illustrations of large, colorful flowers and birds. At the top stands a large vase topped with a crown. The bottom margins incorporate two swans, one rendered in white and the other in black.
A Jewish presence in Ragusa (Dubrovnik) has been recorded from the 13th century. In 1546, a community of under 50 Jewish families lived in it – most of them of Sephardic origin – who directed trade between the Ottoman Empire and Northern Italy. The few documented ketubot from Ragusa bear testament to signs of influence from the traditions of design that prevailed in Northern and Central Italy, most notably those of the Veneto region, and Venice in particular.

78X51 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains and light fading of ink, mainly to Upper part. Folding marks. Minor tears and damage, professionally restored.

The NLI Ketubot website records only seven ketubot from the Republic of Ragusa (including the present ketubah, listing 990003035750205171); the present ketubah is the earliest. For more information and comparison, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 227-231 (KET 208, KET 3, KET 30, KET 11, KET 39).

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Lot 16 Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Senigallia – 18th-Century Illustrated Frame with 1843 Ketubah – Illustrations of Jerusalem and Emblems of the Twelve Tribes

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yeshayah Moshe son of Michael Shabtai Mondolfo and Juditta daughter of Avr

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $35,000

Estimate: $50,000 - $70,000

Sold for: $43,750

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yeshayah Moshe son of Michael Shabtai Mondolfo and Juditta daughter of Avraham Chaim Barocci. Senigallia, Italy, 13 Adar II 5603 [March 15, 1843]; illustrated 18th-century frame.

Ink and paint on parchment; cotton threads.

The ketubah text appears in the center, inside a square frame, followed by the signatures of the groom (on the right) and two witnesses: Yaakov Chaim Moscato and Yosef son of Yitzchak Ascoli. The blue frame around the text is sewn on the margins into a large rectangular parchment sheet, which had served as a frame in an earlier ketubah, apparently from the 1760s.

The reuse of decorated frames of older ketubot was a unique practice of Italian Jews and is also discernible in other Italian ketubot (see below).

The decorated frame, fashioned from an originally rectangular parchment sheet, presents illustrations divided into two parts: the upper third features a large arch with a magnificent illustration of Jerusalem and a Biblical verse celebrating the city; this illustration is enriched by twisting vines bearing leaves and fruits, birds and roosters, elegantly incorporating verses from Tehillim and illustrations of these verses. Near the bases of the arch stand two fountains with spouts shaped as angels and bathers, with large fish adorning their bases. The two upper corners feature female angels blowing trumpets. The bottom two thirds showcase no fewer than 36 charming miniature illustrations, exquisitely drawn and colored, artfully arranged among a host of cartouches and frames embellished with flower bouquets, incorporating Biblical verses, principally from Shir HaShirim (but also from Bereshit and Yeshayahu). These illustrations encompass the symbols of the twelve tribes, the twelve zodiac signs and a dozen illustrated verses, several relating to the yearly calendar.

A small Jewish community lived in Senigallia from the 14th century and was in close contact with the large community of the nearby Ancona. The design of the ketubot of Senigallia was therefore influenced by the aesthetic traditions prevalent in northern Italy, and the present ketubah is a fine exemplar of this influence; five more ketubot decorated in this pattern are documented, the earliest from Ragusa (Dubrovnik), dated to the 1670s. Other ketubot in this style are documented from Verona, Livorno, Acqui, as well as another ketubah from Senigallia dated 1763.

74X52 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and stains, slightly affecting illustrations (most illustrations in good condition). Minor tears to parchment and several pieces missing, professionally restored.

For further information and comparison, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 227, 41, 83, 123, 1 (KET 208, KET 17, KET 210, KET 206, KET 296).

On the reuse of decorated ketubot in Italy, see notes of Prof. Shalom Sabar to ketubot K105 and K96 of the René Braginsky Collection, and see: Sabar (2022), Vol. I, No. 1 (KET 296).

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035630205171.

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Lot 17 Parchment Ketubah, Decorated with Micrography – Modena, 1749 – Norzi and Levi Families – Signatures of Rabbis of Modena

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yehudah Shmuel son of David Norzi and Miriam daughter of Avraham Chai HaLe

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Parchment Ketubah, Decorated with Micrography – Modena, 1749 – Norzi and Levi Families – Signatures of Rabbis of Modena

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $8,000

Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000

Sold for: $10,000

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yehudah Shmuel son of David Norzi and Miriam daughter of Avraham Chai HaLevi. Modena ("Modona"), Italy, 12 Cheshvan 5510 [October 24, 1749].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a rectangular sheet of parchment. The ketubah text is featured in the center, in square script, followed by the signatures of two witnesses in Italian cursive script: Avraham Chai son of R. Netanel Graziano and Yitzchak son of R. Moshe Formiggini.

Decorated with micrography in black and red. The upper part features a large crown comprised of verses from Song of Songs, below which is a cartouche with two family coats of arms: on the right is the coat of arms of the groom's family, Norzi (Norsa) – three heads with ribbons banded around the forehead, with a crescent in between them; and on the left is the coat of arms of the bride's family, Levi (HaLevi) – a hand holding a jar pouring water into a basin. The family coats of arms are drawn with dashed lines. The cartouche frame incorporates Biblical verses relating to the names of the bride and groom. To the left and right of the cartouche are a pair of birds standing on twisting shoots emerging from the capitals of a pair of tall pillars. The space between the pillars is decorated in the form of a woman (siren?) reminiscent of Renaissance-style decorations.

The ketubah is surrounded by a rectangular frame composed of alternating black and red triangles composed of the text of blessings and Biblical verses from Tehillim and Yeshayahu. The lower left corner bears the signature of the artist: "Bentzion Refael son of Yehudah HaLevi".

The two witnesses who signed the ketubah served as rabbis in Modena: R. Avraham Chai Graziano, a rabbi of Modena (d. 1761) was a benefactor of R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim, during his stay in Modena, and also authored an approbation to his book; R. Yitzchak Formiggini was also an important rabbi in Modena, and was an associate of the Chida.

A color photograph of the ketubah was published in: Jay Weinstein, A Collectors' Guide to Judaica, London, 1985 – item 26, no. 259.

61.5X43.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and dampstains, affecting text and decorations. Tears professionally restored.

For similar ketubot, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 15-16 (KET 334, KET 295).

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Lot 18 Large, Elegant Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Genoa, Italy, 1751 – From the David Solomon Sassoon Collection – Foa and Noveira Families

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe Yaakov son of Menachem Foa (Foà) and Sarah daughter of Yitzch

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Large, Elegant Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Genoa, Italy, 1751 – From the David Solomon Sassoon Collection – Foa and Noveira Families

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $25,000

Estimate: $40,000 - $50,000

Sold for: $32,500

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Moshe Yaakov son of Menachem Foa (Foà) and Sarah daughter of Yitzchak Noveira of Verona. Genoa, Italy, 9 Sivan 5511 [June 2, 1751].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a large parchment sheet, with its upper edge distinctively shaped in an architectural triangular form. The text is written in two columns, with the ketubah on the right in square script, and the Tena'im on the left in cursive script. On the margins of the ketubah and Tena'im are the signatures of the bridegroom ("I, Moshe Yaakov Foa, the bridegroom, affirm and certify as above") and the witnesses: Yitzchak son of Gershon Kohen Rapa and Yitzchak son of Meshulam Zalman Pincherle.

Richly decorated, with a symmetric composition of Rococo motifs (sea shells, rocailles and acanthus leaves), and high-quality illustrations of birds, grapevines and guilloches, tastefully colored in various shades. The ketubah is headed by the verse "In the name of the Lord, eternal G-d" (Bereshit 21:33), below which appears the blessing "with an auspicious sign and good luck", and around the text of the ketubah appear verses from the Book of Ruth (4:11-12).

The cartouche heading the ketubah bears two family coats of arms: on the right – two lions leaning against a tower – the coat of arms of the bride's family, Noveira (also spelled Nojera, Novera, Noveira or Navarro); and on the left – two lions leaning against a palm tree topped by a Star of David – the coat of arms of the groom's family, Foa, which is also used extensively on many books printed by members of the family. At the time the present ketubah was written, only three Jewish families were permitted to reside in Genoa, among them the Foa family.

The NLI ketubot website records only 13 ketubot from Genoa, just three of which are dated to the 18th century, the present ketubah being the third (the previous ones: 1702 – incomplete and undecorated; and 1749).

85.5X54 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, some dark. Marginal dampstains. Minor tears, mainly to margins, professionally restored, with parchment repairs.

For coats of arms of the Nuveira and Foa families, see: Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia. [Turin]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 74, 214.

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990001347230205171.

Provenance:

• Collection of David Solomon Sassoon (1880-1942). Documented in Ohel David, a Descriptive Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the Sassoon Library, London, 1932, II, No. 933, pp. 980-981.

• Sotheby's, Zurich, November 21, 1978, A Further Thirty-Three Highly Important Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts from the collection formed by the Late David Solomon Sassoon, Lot 18.

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Lot 19 Large, Elaborate Parchment Ketubah – Livorno, 1755 – Bride and Groom of the Sonsin Family

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham son of Mordechai Levi Sonsin and Rosa daughter of Menachem Chai Levi

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $30,000

Estimate: $40,000 - $50,000

Sold for: $50,000

Including buyer's premium

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).

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Lot 20 Large Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Mantua, 1755 – Coats of Arms of Canton and Sullam Families

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yehoshua Avraham son of Refael Chaim Canton and Esther daughter of Moshe C

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Large Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Mantua, 1755 – Coats of Arms of Canton and Sullam Families

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $25,000

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Sold for: $31,250

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Yehoshua Avraham son of Refael Chaim Canton and Esther daughter of Moshe Chaim Sullam. Mantua, Italy, 10 Kislev 5516 [November 14, 1755].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a large rectangular parchment sheet, its upper margin elegantly shaped in an undulating pattern. The ketubah text appears in the center, in square letters, with the witnesses' signatures on the margins: "Aharon son of R. Yosef Baruch Cases the physician" (R. Aharon Cases, a rabbi of Mantua) and "Yaakov son of R. Simchah Yehudah Saraval" (R. Yaakov Saraval, a rabbi of the Great Yeshiva of Venice, and from 1752 rabbi in Mantua).

The decorated frame is divided into two parts: the upper third features a golden guilloche captioned "My beloved is a bundle of myrrh to me" (Shir HaShirim 1:13), surrounded by rich illustrations in vegetal patterns, with a pair of flower vases, a pair of birds standing on branches, verses of blessing and a pair of angels holding medallions with the family coats of arms of the bride and groom: to the right is the coat of arms of the groom's family, Canton (Cantoni) – a deer resting beside a fruit tree, and to the left is the coat of arms of the bride's family, Sullam – a ladder placed on the ground, with angels climbing on it.

The bottom two thirds contain a repeating pattern of leaves and flowers, incorporating the twelve signs of the zodiac, and in the four corners – inside round medallions – appear four allegorical depictions of the seasons: the wheat harvest (summer), a man warming up beside an oven (winter), a woman standing between flowers (spring) and the grape harvest (fall). The margins of the ketubah incorporate verses of blessing from the Book of Ruth.

The array of designs in this ketubah was very popular in the 18th century, and it is repeated in many Italian ketubot of the period.

84X59.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, some dark, and moisture damage, affecting text and illustrations. Stains to verso. Marginal tears and some missing pieces of parchment, professionally restored.

For further information and for similar ketubot, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, Nos. 29 (KET 49) and 36 (KET 1). For the family coats of arms, see: Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia. [Turin]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 96, 208.

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Lot 21 Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Chieri, 1760 – One of the Only Recorded Ketubot from Chieri

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham Yaakov son of Chizkiyah HaLevi and Sarah Simchah daughter of Moshe

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $10,000

Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000

Sold for: $13,750

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Avraham Yaakov son of Chizkiyah HaLevi and Sarah Simchah daughter of Moshe HaLevi. Chieri, Italy, 1 Sivan 5520 [May 16, 1760].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a square parchment sheet. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, with the signatures of the groom (left) and the witnesses (right) in the margin: Yitzchak son of Moshe Formiggini and Aryeh Yehudah son of Mahalalel Kohen.

Decorated with an architectural structure designed as a triumphal arch with three passageways, supported by four pillars. The two side arches and bottom margins contain illustrations in vegetal patterns, and the arch is topped by four flower vases on either side of a cartouche with the bride and groom's family coat of arms – a jug placed in a basin – under the caption "House of Levi, bless the Lord" (Tehillim 135:20). The blessing "How goodly and pleasant is the dwelling of brothers together" at the top of the arch has the letters Mem and Tet marked, as an allusion to the initials of Mazal Tov.

Chieri, near Turin, in the Piedmont region, was home to a small Jewish community from the 15th century onwards. In 1724 the community numbered a mere 70 members, and in the mid-19th century some 150 members; by the early 20th century it had already ceased to exist. A member of the Levi family, David Levi, served in the early 19th century as deputy mayor of Chieri (then under French rule) and as representative of Piedmont in the Paris Sanhedrin.

67.5X63 cm. Fair good condition. Creases. Stains, some dark, affecting text, paint and illustrations. Ink fading in some places. Tears and damage, professionally restored.

For further information, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, No. 5 (KET 260).

The NLI ketubot website records only three ketubot from Chieri (including the present ketubah, listing 990003035610205171).

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Lot 22 Decorated Parchment Ketubah – With Illustrations of Jerusalem and Signs of the Zodiac – Santa Fiora, Italy, 1777 – Paggi and Sorano Families

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Shimshon son of Binyamin Paggi and Esther daughter of Shmuel Sorano. Santa

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $15,000

Estimate: $18,000 - $25,000

Unsold

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Shimshon son of Binyamin Paggi and Esther daughter of Shmuel Sorano. Santa Fiora, Italy, 14 Cheshvan 5538 [November 14, 1777].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a parchment sheet, with its upper section fashioned into a triangular pediment. The ketubah text appears in the center, in square script, followed by the signatures of two witnesses, in Latin characters: "Moise Cetona di Isache Monte Fiora, Raffael di Iosef Servi".

The ketubah is decorated in a symmetrical composition, with guilloches, vegetal patterns and figurative illustrations. In the margins of the upper part are verses of blessing, below which appear illustrations, including: a large crown topping a family coat of arms (a dog or wolf leaning agaimst a tree), the figures of Moses and Aaron, six of the twelve signs of the zodiac, and in the center – an illustration of Jerusalem featuring the Dome of the Rock.

The bottom part shows other illustrations, including the other six signs of the zodiac, allegorical illustrations including a bride and groom in dress characteristic of the period. In the center, under a large guilloche, are two round medallions containing a pair of illustrations of Biblical themes, alluding to the names of the groom and bride (Shimshon and Esther): the right picture depicts Samson carrying the gates of Gaza, while the left picture depicts Queen Esther. These medallions are placed under a cornucopia and are connected by blooming branches and a heart-shaped illustration. The right and left margins show six more illustrations, on various themes (most Biblical): Samson and the lion, a ship at sea, Jacob's dream, a pair of hands clinking cups, the Binding of Isaac (?) and Jonah and the fish.

The son of Shimshon Paggi and Esther Sorano was Angelo (Mordechai) Paggi (1789-1867), a Semitic philologist and educator (see: Servi, Gl' Israeliti d'Europa nelle Civiltà, pp. 178 et seq.; idem, Angelo Paggi e le sue Opere, Corfu, 1869).

The NLI Ketubot website documents only one ketubah from Santa Fiora, dated 1751, with its upper margins trimmed in similar fashion to the present ketubah (undecorated).

64X44 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and creases, slightly affecting text and illustrations. Old tears, old holes and filing holes to right margins, professionally restored.

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Lot 23 Magnificent Italian Decorated Parchment Cut Ketubah – Lugo, 1784

Ketubah made of a decorated parchment cut, for the wedding of Shabtai son of Shlomo Yachya [Jacchia] and Allegrezza daught

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Magnificent Italian Decorated Parchment Cut Ketubah – Lugo, 1784

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $20,000

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Sold for: $40,000

Including buyer's premium

Ketubah made of a decorated parchment cut, for the wedding of Shabtai son of Shlomo Yachya [Jacchia] and Allegrezza daughter of Moshe Mordechai Chazak [Forti]. Lugo, Italy, Erev Pesach, 14 Nisan 5544 [April 5, 1784].

Parchment cut; ink and paint.

Written on a rectangular parchment sheet, its upper margin elaborately scalloped. The ketubah text appears in the center, in square script, with the signatures of the witnesses in the margins: "Yaakov son of Menachem Azariah of Fano" and "Avraham Chai Batsheva".

To the left of the witnesses' signatures is mounted a folded piece of paper, with a poetic dedication in Italian cursive script, implying that the ketubah was given at some point (apparently in the late 18th or early 19th century) as a mishloach manot on Purim to Yitzchak son of Shmuel (signed with initials).

The ketubah text appears in a large parchment cut arch decoration, characteristic of ketubot from Lugo, and contains twisting vines, flowers and birds. Three more frames – to the left, right and bottom – contain similar vegetal patterns and illustrations of birds, lions and deer, the twelve signs of the zodiac and verses of blessing from the Book of Ruth (4:11-12). The upper margin features a finely rendered angel holding two vines encircling the family coats of arms: two lions leaning against a tower (?) in the first, and a head in profile, facing leftwards with a band over its eyes in the second.

79.5X55 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, some dark, and dampstains, affecting text and illustrations. Old folding marks, affecting text, professionally restored. Tears to margins, with small pieces of parchment missing, professionally restored.

For other parchment cut ketubot from Lugo, see: Ebrei a Lugo, I Contratti Matrimoniali (Imola: Galeati, 1994), pp. 42-43, 48-53; René Braginsky Collection, K105.

For another parchment cut ketubah see Lot 25 of this catalogue.

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035760205171.

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Lot 24 Elaborate Parchment Ketubah – Rome, 1791 – Decorated with Micrography of the Book of Esther and the Castelnuovo and Baraffael Family Coats of Arms

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Mahalalel son of Eliyah of Castelnuovo and Fiore daughter of Mordechai Yaa

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Elaborate Parchment Ketubah – Rome, 1791 – Decorated with Micrography of the Book of Esther and the Castelnuovo and Baraffael Family Coats of Arms

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $20,000

Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000

Sold for: $25,000

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Mahalalel son of Eliyah of Castelnuovo and Fiore daughter of Mordechai Yaakov Chaim Baraffael. Rome, Italy, 26 Adar 5551 [March 2, 1791].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a rectangular parchment sheet, its lower margin distinctively shaped in a pointed shield form, characteristic of Roman ketubot. The ketubah text appears in the center in square script, and also mentions the notary who effected the civil marriage, "De Santis". The signatures of the witnesses appear in the margins of the text: Yaakov son of Gershon Citone and Matzliach son of Mordechai Funaro.

The rich decorations of this ketubah attest to the high social status of the families of the bride and groom, which is confirmed by the large dowry of 2,000 scudi.

The decorations include colorful flower illustrations, some arranged in bouquets and others in triangles with impressive micrographic borders on all sides, comprising the full text of the Book of Esther. Other verses (from the Books of Ruth, Tehillim and Mishlei) adorn the outer frame. The top of the ketubah features a pair of angels holding cartouches with the family coats of arms: the bride's to the right and the groom's the left.

86X55 cm. Overall good condition. Folding marks. Stains, slightly affecting text. Tears and damage to margins, with small pieces of parchment missing, professionally restored.

For similar ketubot and further information, see: Shalom Sabar (2022), Vol. I, No. 135 (KET 44), and the René Braginsky Collection, K41. For the family coats of arms of the bride and groom, see: Jewish Museum of Rome, item 616 (Mappà Baraffael); Elvio Giuditta, Araldica Ebraica in Italia. [Turin]: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici, 2007, pp. 162, 167-168.

This ketubah is documented on the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035620205171.

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Lot 25 Large, Elegant and Rare Ketubah – Colorful Parchment Cut Depicting the Binding of Isaac and the Zodiac Signs – Venice, 1800 – Fonseca and Ashkenazi Families

Decorated ketubah, made of a parchment cut, for the wedding of Eliyahu, son of Moshe Ashkenazi Fonseca and Esther, daughte

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Large, Elegant and Rare Ketubah – Colorful Parchment Cut Depicting the Binding of Isaac and the Zodiac Signs – Venice, 1800 – Fonseca and Ashkenazi Families

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $35,000

Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000

Sold for: $45,000

Including buyer's premium

Decorated ketubah, made of a parchment cut, for the wedding of Eliyahu, son of Moshe Ashkenazi Fonseca and Esther, daughter of Eliyahu son of Avraham Ashkenazi. Venice, Italy, 14 Nisan 5560 [April 9, 1800].

Parchment cut. Ink and paint.

Written on a large parchment sheet, its upper edge elegantly shaped in an undulating pattern. The text of the ketubah appears in the center, in square letters, below which appear the Tena'im in cursive script. In the margins of the ketubah and Tena'im appear the signatures of the groom and two witnesses, in Latin characters: "Elia Aboaf Fonseca qm. [quondam] Moise, Abram Jona, Jona Semazia".

Decorated in a symmetrical pattern, in bright colors, masterfully trimmed into figurative and typographic images; the text of the ketubah is surrounded by illustrations of vegetables and flowers, drawn on the parchment sheet, incorporating thirteen round medallions meticulously cut into figurative images: the top central medallion depicts the scene of the Binding of Isaac, along with a Biblical verse from the scene, while the other medallions depict the twelve signs of the zodiac.

The top part incorporates a typographical parchment cut with the blessing "with an auspicious sign and good luck" in gilt letters cut over a red lace background in a vegetal pattern, while the outer margins, surrounding the ketubah document, integrate a typographical parchment cut yet more delicate, including verses from the Book of Ruth (4:11-12) in red letters cut over a golden parchment cut background.

A few known ketubot are decorated with parchment cutting, including ketubot from Lugo (see Lot 23 of this catalogue) and Ancona, but not from Venice.

92.5X 67.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and creases, mainly to margins. Marginal tears, some with pieces of parchment missing, professionally restored, generally not affecting parchment cut.

For more ketubot with parchment cut decorations, see: Ebrei a Lugo, I Contratti Matrimoniali (Imola: Galeati, 1994); René Braginsky Collection, K96, K105; Sotheby's, New York, April 29, 2013 (the Steinhardt Collection), Lot Nos. 101-102.

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Lot 26 Decorated Parchment Ketubah – Vercelli, 1800 – Leblin and Treves Families – Signatures of Rabbis of Vercelli

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Shmuel Chaim son of Yitzchak Shlomo Leblin and Simchah Malkah daughter of

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Auction 101 Part 1 Special Auction: Ketubot | Megillot | Haggadot | Books | Jewish Ceremonial Art Feb 17, 2025

Opening: $15,000

Estimate: $20,000 - $25,000

Sold for: $20,000

Including buyer's premium

Decorated parchment ketubah, for the wedding of Shmuel Chaim son of Yitzchak Shlomo Leblin and Simchah Malkah daughter of Refael Yehudah Yaakov Treves. Vercelli, Italy, 4 Sivan 5560 [May 28, 1800].

Ink and paint on parchment.

Written on a rectangular sheet of parchment. The text of ketubah appears in the center, inside an arched frame, written in square script, followed by the signatures of two witnesses in cursive Italian script: Chizkiyah Yechiel Chaim (son of Menachem Tzion) Treves and Yehoshua Bentzion (son of Binyamin) Segre (on the right) and the signature of the groom (on the left).

Very richly decorated in Rococo style (although dating to several decades after this style's prime), and densely filled with illustrations of rocailles and acanthus leaves, stylized cartouches, sea shells, putti (cherubs), flowers and birds, drawn on a yellowish-gold background. The six cartouches appearing in the margins include putti and figures donning ribbons, portrayed dancing and eating fruits; in total no fewer than 18 putti are depicted. In the cartouches at the top and bottom of the ketubah appear family coats of arms (apparently those of the bride and groom): above is a tower topped by a blackbird, and below are two lions leaning against a palm tree.

The groom's name, Shmuel Chaim Leblin, and names of several family members, appear in various documents from the Piedmont region, and his own signature appears as a witness on several ketubot from the Casale Monferrato region.

The two witnesses who signed the ketubah served as rabbis in Vercelli: R. Chizkiyah Yechiel Chaim Treves served as Rabbi of Vercelli and hosted the Chida (who mentions him in his Maagal Tov); R. Yehoshua Segre (1709-1797) was an Italian rabbi, poet and kabbalist who authored many books, served as dayan and rabbi in Scandiano, Vercelli and Casale Monferrato (for further information on him, see: Kedem, Auction 77, Lot 268).

A color photograph of the ketubah was published in: Jay Weinstein, A Collectors' Guide to Judaica, London, 1985 – Plate 27.

57X50.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, some dark stains, affecting text and decorations. Some tears and perforations, professionally restored. Creases and folding marks.

The NLI Ketubot website documents 13 ketubot from Vercelli, including a similar ketubah dated 1796, apparently illustrated by the same artist (listing 990003030900205171; private collection).

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