(KETHUBAH).

3rd Nissan

Faizabad (Old British Colonial: Fyzabad), India

1910

Marriage Contract. Solemnizes the marriage of Eliyahu, son of Ezra Yehezkel Sassoon, to Lulu, daughter of Moshe Haim Avraham Haham Ovadiah HaLevi. Written in an attractively fluid, neat rabbinic script on vellum. The upper portion comprises a florid blessing for the bridal couple, the subsequent text contains the marriage formula, financial and related obligations appear next, followed by the signatures of the parties and witnesses. Accomplished in ink, gouache and silver paint.

A unique and tremendously attractive illuminated Kethubah. The only Kethubah extant from the North-Eastern Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. The decorative motifs employed to ornament this Kethubah are traditional with those found on other marriage contracts deriving from the Indian-Baghdadi community, especially those emanating from Calcutta. The present example however is particularly exquisite, made all the more refined given that it is produced on vellum rather than on paper which would be more typical. Its dense array of flowers and birds, anchored by arches, creates a rich surrounding for the text. Situated near the border with Nepal, the town of Saket Faizabad was developed by the princely Nawabs of Awadh. Despite the fact that the groom was a member of the Sassoon Family, there exists no historic record of a Jewish presence in Faizabad.