An Illustrated Marriage Contract, Amsterdam: 1723

Shalom Sabar, "The Golden Age of Ketubbah decoration in Venice and Amsterdam" in The Ghetto in Venice: Ponentini, Levantini e Tedeschi, 1516-1797, Amsterdam: 1990.

Recording the marriage of Joseph son of Jacob Teixeira de Mattos to Judith daughter of Abraham Hezikiah Nunes Henriques on Wednesday 4 Tammuz 5483 [= July 7, 1723].

This superb engraved ketubbah celebrates the marriage of two members from the most prominent and wealthy families among Amsterdam's Sephardic elite. Dr. Shalom Sabar has demonstrated that the design of this ketubbah is associated with the most famous Jewish artist of the 17^th century, Shalom d'Italia.  In his research, Dr. Sabar has noted that around 1648 Shalom d'Italia created two copper-etchings to be used as borders for marriage contracts. Several years later, an anonymous artist copied one of these ketubbot making only small changes to the original design.  This copy was printed in Amsterdam and was used by members of the Sephardic Jewish community throughout Europe and America.  The decorative motifs include a rounded archway supported by a pair of columns encircled with vines. Above, two cherubs hold aloft drapery which is inscribed with the words "be-siman tov" (with a good sign). The side panels are composed of large urns with blossoming flowers interspersed with birds and insects.  At the top of the right side panel is an image of a man and a woman clasping hands, representing the bridal couple. At the top of the left panel is a depiction of the allegory of the virtue "charity" represented by an image of a woman and two small children.