CONTINENTAL SILVER MEGILLAH CASE AND SCROLL OF ESTHER.

Cylindrical case densely repousse and chased throughout with naturalistic grapes, grape leaves and swirling vines, the thumb-piece featuring a lurking fox. The spindle decorated en suite to the body. Marked (indecipherable). Fitted with complete manuscript Esther Scroll written on vellum with decorative crowns above the word ‘HaMelech’ and other words. Length of case: 8 inches.

Design elements reference Aesop’s Fable of the Fox and the Grapes: As the hungry fox tries unsuccessfully to access grapes hanging from high, he snidely responds that the grapes are not ripe and unwanted. The traditionally anthropomorphized fables extend moral lessons, and in this tale, to those enviously disparaging others. Perhaps the artisan was trying to bridge a connection between this fable and the Purim story, although with all his corruption and wickedness towards the Jewish People, Haman does not possess “sour grapes,” because he cares about royal position until his death.