Scroll of Esther
Germany, c1720
Parchment, ink, paint, written, painted; height: 18 cm, length: 122 cm

This charming folk style megillah has a cast of characters from the Esther story, illustrated with particular charm. The style of costume indicates a dating of about 1700 and the glued, rather than sewn, seams joining the segments, place the probable origin in Germany. There is a particularly interesting illustration of the Persian capital city of Shushan.

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