Limited facsimile edition—number 128 of 295 copies stamped and signed by the publisher—of an Esther scroll “unequaled in conception and in the freedom of its execution.”
Sometime in the early eighteenth century, during a period that witnessed the revival of Hebrew manuscript illumination among Central European Jewry, an anonymous Ashkenazic scribe-artist created a profusely illustrated Esther scroll that today takes its name from the two German words gracing its opening panel: Statt Susonn, the city of Shushan (with the city depicted below). The sophisticated decorative program of this megillah, featuring detailed scenes of intricately rendered baroque buildings and genteel characters sporting typical eighteenth-century dress, is unique among surviving exemplars of the genre.
The present lot is a high-quality facsimile of the original Statt Susonn illustrated Esther scroll printed on natural parchment. The publishers, Michael and Linda Falter, chose to pair their megillot with exacting handmade reproductions of an elaborate Biedermeier-style silver scroll case that was originally created by Lorenz Pfalzer of Vienna in 1824. The ensemble comes with an acrylic tray and museum-quality presentation case, suitable for horizontal or vertical display, as well as a learned commentary volume coauthored by Emile G. L. Schrijver and Falk Wiesemann.
Scroll is printed on fine handmade English sheepskin parchment, hand-cut to the exact outline of the original and attached to the central spindle and pullbar with silver fastenings. Housed in a handmade sterling silver case hallmarked and discreetly blind-stamped with the limitation number on the pullbar. Accompanied by a clear acrylic tray...
Category
Early 2000s British Animal Skin Sterling Silver