Large Illuminated Ketubah with a Hamsa and Crescent Cutouts – Beirut, Erev Pesach 1877 – Zaituni Family

Large Illuminated Ketubah with a Hamsa and Crescent Cutouts – Beirut, Erev Pesach 1877 – Zaituni Family

Ketubah recording the marriage of the groom Shlomo son of Mordechai Zaituni, and the bride Malka daughter of Shlomo Zaituni. Beirut, 14th Nissan 1877, Erev Pesach.
Ink and paint on paper.
Large ketubah, with upper edge decoratively cut in form of waves, hamsa and crescents. At the foot of the leaf, horseshoe arch with a double border containing verses of blessings. The text of the ketubah is inscribed within the arch, and is signed by the witnesses: Michael Yosef Dana (right), Moshe Aharon Yedid HaLevi (left), and the groom (center). A particularly large vase surmounts the arch, filled with branches and flowers covering most of the upper part of the leaf; the right and left margins are also decorated with large, colorful illustrations of flower bouquets and branches.
The Zaituni family is a prominent rabbinic family from Beirut; members of the family served as rabbis in Beirut and various other cities.
One of the largest, earliest and most decorated extant ketubot from Beirut. For the best of our knowledge and research, no other illustrated ketubot from 19th century Beirut were documented.

76X53 cm. Fair-good condition. Folding marks, creases, stains and tears, slightly affecting text and ornaments. Some tears professionally restored. Open tear to upper edge (missing hamsah). Open tear to lower left corner, with old paper repair (unskilled).

Exhibitions:
* Leaving, Never to Return!, curated by Dana Avrish. Tel Aviv, Eretz Israel Museum, 2019, p. 189 (Hebrew).
* Only on Paper, Six Centuries of Judaica from the Gross Family Collection. Chicago, Columbia College, 2005.
Provenance:
* Parke Bernet Galleries, New York, 28 May 1969, lot no. 165.
* Sotheby's, New York, 4 June 1996, lot no. 74. The Raymond E. Blank collection.
* The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 035.011.038.
The ketubah is documented on the NLI website and on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 45801.