Miniature Ashkenazic Torah Scroll [19th century]

1 Torah Scroll (Height of parchment: 8 in. (203 mm); height of text: 5 ½ in. (140 mm); x app. 68 ft. (app. 20.7 m). 52 membranes, 266 columns, 42 lines, blind-ruled, written in brown ink on vellum in Ashkenazic STAM square script, vavei ha-Amudim; sewn with gidin. Silver-capped wooden rollers with inset ivory panels, some bearing the names and symbols of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. White velvet gartel (belt) and matching white velvet mantle, decorated with traditional motifs, finished and embroidered with golden and silver metallic thread.

The most sacred ritual artifact of the Jewish faith is the Torah Scroll.  Containing the text of the Pentateuch and written by hand on specially prepared parchment according to traditions that date back thousands of years, these sacred scrolls are used for public worship services in Jewish communities around the world. However, smaller Torah Scrolls, such as the present lot, are much scarcer and require a degree of scribal proficiency far beyond the ability of all but the most skilled scribes.  The small size and reduced weight of a miniature scroll meant that it was sufficiently portable that a devout Jew could always carry a Torah when traveling.  In addition, miniature scrolls could be more easily stored in a private residence without requiring the construction of a large ark such as those used to house the communal Torah scrolls, found in most synagogues. The present scroll is accompanied by a certificate from Makhon Hasofer attesting to its ritual fitness for liturgical use.