A Decorated Ketubbah from Herat, Afghanistan, 1898

Throughout the 19th century the city of Herat was home to the largest and most influential Jewish community in Afghanistan. As a leading center of ketubbah decoration, a distinct decorative program developed locally and was employed on several ketubbot from this city during the second half of the 19th century.

The upper portion of the frame is divided into five sections, each enclosing a multifoil Islamic arch; two of these arches contain biblical verses in honor of the bride and groom, while the alternating three, feature bouquets of flowers. The good wishes continue along the narrow outer frame and are arranged in alphabetical order, each beginning with the word siman (sign). The bold colors and upper row of Islamic-style arches are characteristic of Herat marriage contracts. The model for this architectural format might have been the interior decoration of Muslim and Jewish homes in Central Asia and may therefore allude to the creation of the couple’s new home.