Ketubah (marriage contract) by Anonymous

Ketubah (marriage contract) 1879

pigment, paper, ink

aged paper

toned paper

water colours

pigment

pottery

paper

tea stained

ink

warm toned

wooden texture

warm-toned

layered pattern

watercolor

This anonymous Ketubah (marriage contract) from 1879 is a beautiful example of Jewish folk art. It is adorned with intricate floral designs and features two lions flanking a central Tree of Life, symbolizing strength and growth. The text in Hebrew, which details the terms of the marriage agreement, is framed by a border of birds and flowers. This Ketubah, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection, showcases the rich artistic traditions of Jewish communities and serves as a testament to the enduring power of marriage and love.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This ketubah, or marriage contract, was made for a wedding that took place in Isfahan, Persia (today's Iran) on April 4, 1879 (11 Nisan, 5639 on the Jewish calendar.) The bride was Bruriah, daughter of Joseph, and the groom was Moshe, son of Joseph. The lion and sun are ancient Persian symbols dating back to the Sassanian Period (226-651 BCE) and are often seen on 19th and 20th century marriage contracts in Isfahan. The marriage contract sets forth the bride's rights within the marriage and the terms of her support in case of divorce.