An Elaborately Decorated Ketubbah, Siena: 1725

Ink and watercolor on parchment

(27 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.; 699 x 572 mm, sight). Upper margin scalloped, text within a rich, hand-colored border of intertwined flowers and foliage, two birds flanking an inscribed cartouche in upper border, two vases in side borders, additional inscribed cartouches on side and lower borders; text a bit faded, ink stain affecting two lines of text, small tape repair in upper margin, some creasing and light, scattered staining. Matted, glazed, and framed; not examined out of frame.  

Celebrating the wedding of Solomon, the son of Joshua Gallichi to Bella Dona, the daughter of Rafael Hayyim Gallichi on Wednesday 8th Adar 5485 (= February. 21, 1725).

This marriage contract for two members of the wealthy Gallichi is adorned by a richly colored border composed of flowering vines and biblical verses relating to the bride and groom. The ketubbah is surrounded with the texts from Psalm 128, which express an ideal of family life. The harmonious relationship between husband and wife is described as a "fruitful vine" and their children as flourishing “olive plants." The groom, Solomon Gallichi did indeed flourish, as evidenced by his dedication of an elaborated carved wooden bimah for the synagogue in Siena, in 1755, thirty years after his wedding. The bimah remains extant in Siena to the present day.

Decorated ketubbot from eighteenth century Siena are exceedingly rare and few if any, are as lavishly ornamented as the present example.