Illustrated Ketubah – Persia, 1895

Ketubah (marriage contract), recording the marriage of the groom Yosef son of Ya’akov to bride Kanam daughter of Yisrael. Gulpaigan, Persia, [1895].
Ink and watercolor on paper. Ornamented frame of leaves and colorful flowers, with design typical of Jews of the region. Verse-frame: “And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall recognize them that they are seed that the Lord blessed. I will rejoice with the Lord; my soul shall exult with my God, for He has attired me with garments of salvation, with a robe of righteousness He has enwrapped me; like a bridegroom, who, priestlike, dons garments of glory, and like a bride, who adorns herself with her jewelry” (Yeshaya 61), and “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning”. Upper section of Ketubah contains traditional heading as customary in communities of Persia, arranged in columns, ornamented with geometric patterns: “Orah VeTzahala VeYakar U’Gdula…” Following version of Ketubah, “Ketubah addendum” in Jewish-Persian preceding signatures of witnesses and family members. Additional addendum in Jewish-Persian from 1925, with additional signatures.
58X44 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Fading of color. Tears on folding marks.