This handmade Persian ketuba was used approximately 100 years ago. The contract was for the marriage between Bavagan ben Yaakov and Sarah bat Shlomo ha Levi in the Hebrew year 5660. (The year 1900 overlaps 5760-61.) The decorations include a panel with 20 good wishes in Hebrew, flowers and multi-colored borders of arrow shaped elements. The crudeness of the decorative work adds to the interest of this piece. Watercolor and ink on paper (approx. 17 1/4" x 13 1/2").

Because antique ketubot were generally folded away for storage, as in this case,one almost always finds damage due to that folding. This ketuba is in fair condition with some separation on the fold lines, some minor losses on the top left corner, the top and bottom edges (particularly on the central fold line), within the image (again on the fold lines). In the image there are a few light spots and small areas where the watercolor has run. Overall, however, the ketuba is bright and clean and looks good.

The quoted price DOES NOT include the red frame shown in the photo. The ketuba will be sent flat without a frame. If you wish to have it sent in this frame, please contact us for the frame price and shipping costs.

Destruction of Jerusalem - a relief wood cut taken out of Liber Chronicarum, The Nuremberg Chronicle (author, Hartman Schedel; illustrators, Michael Wolgemuth and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff with contributions attributed to Albrecht Dürer; and publisher, Anton Koberger; Nuremberg, 1493.)

Koberger published the Nuremberg Chronicle only a few months after Columbus had first returned from the new world and five years before the expulsion of the Jews from Nuremberg. There were an estimated 2500 copies of the Chronicle, with 1500 in Latin and 1000 in German. This publication has been described as, "one of the great works in graphic arts of the fifteenth century." Chronicles of this type were not uncommon during the Renaissance. The historical text would start at the beginning of the world (as related in Genesis), continue through a history heavily influenced by the Old and New Testaments, proceed up to the date of publication, and end with a narrative about the city, state, etc. of the publisher and/or author.

This particular image, which comes from the Latin version, depicts the destructions of the city of Jerusalem. While one of the first printed depictions of Jerusalem, there was an earlier and more accurate image in Breydenbach's book about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This print is primarily a fantasy of the Temple undergoing the destructions described in the accompanying text. Nonetheless, some reasonable image of Jerusalem must have served as the basis of this version, since the view is obviously taken from the Mount of Olives and the Golden Gate, for example, is in its approximately proper place. Of some interest is that with the city walls and towers in ruin in the background and Solomon's Temple engulfed in flames, some residents appear to be engaged in normal business in the foreground.

The relief print is in very good condition for a print that is over 500 years old. There is a fold with staining running down the center where the page was folded into the book; additional faint stains one of which runs into the image in the lower left corner; and general handling creases. The center fold also has a slight separation at the bottom and a few small losses due to the stitching. The image (excluding text) size is roughly 10" x 21" and the page size 17" x 24".

This is one of the major leaves in one of the most important texts of the 15th c and a marvelous image in tis own right.

We ship this print flat in an acid free mat.

This is a marvelous brass, hanging Shabbat lamp (Juden Shtern) from Poland, late 18th c. The Sabbath lamp is lit by the mother of the household as the first ritual act of the Shabbat celebration. While many types of lamps have been used over the centuries, candle sticks have largely replaced the hanging candelabra that were common two centuries ago.

A bulbous stem supports six detachable scrolling branches that end in candle sockets and associated drip pans. Below the sockets is a six-arm star-form oil lamp, from which hangs a bell-shaped drip pan. The overall height from bottom of the drip pan to the top of the simple suspension loop is about 20". The condition is fair; one of the scrolling branches has a not readily detectable repair. There are also minor nicks and a few small dents located randomly about the piece. The candelabrum appears to have been drilled for electricity, although the alterations are not immediately apparent.

This is a large brass Polish 7-branched menorah from the late 19th to early 20th c. A magnificent antique piece that would make an impressive presentation to a synagogue or could be used as a Shabbat candelabrum at home. Assembled from both cast and turned parts. There are repairs to the joins between arms and stem, and the minor dings and scrapes that would be expected from long use.

height at center - 21"; width16 1/4"; base diameter - 6 5/16"