SCROLL OF ESTHER IN PEWTER CASE. Probably Germany, early 19th century. Parchment Scroll: in Aschkenazi script.

An interesting feature of the scroll is the highlighting of initial letters forming the Tetragrammaton, this occurs in five separate places. Its usage is a circumspect method of indicating the Divine presence-otherwise unspoken- in the events of the Esther story. The engraved figures on the case are reminiscent of those on another German 19th century Megillah case; see Israel Museum Catalogue, The Stieglitz Collection (1987), No. 190, p. 276 SEE ILLUSTRATION