Accession number
MS W.46
Object title
Ethiopian prayer scroll (MS W.46).
Display Date
ca. 1955
Created
ca. 1955
Credit line
Bequest of Julia Parker Wightman, 1994.
Description
1 scroll (3 vellum sections stitched together, 1 column running length of scroll) : vellum, ill. ; 1760 x 66 mm.
Provenance
St. Stephen's Monastery, Lake Tana, Ethiopia (note in case); Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles (possibly List 51, 1973, no. 13); purchased from Dawson's by Julia Parker Wightman in 1973 (JPW 7554); Julia Parker Wightman Bequest in 1994.
Notes
Ms. prayer scroll; written and decorated in Ethiopia, ca. 1955.
Decoration: 4 colored amuletic drawings: at the top a red, blue, and black angel guards the owner with upraised sword; at the center is a decorative panel with a face within a square that forms the center of a cross motif with geometrical designs; near the end is another face surrounded by rays that extend in four directions; at the end is a stylized cruciform motif. The prayer texts are written between the drawings. Decorative bars are painted at the stitched junctions of the vellum sections. The entire length of the scroll has a narrow red border on both sides. Text is written in black and red.
Binding: in brown morocco cylinder case lined with colorful paper stamped in geometrical designes, labeled: Ethiopian prayer scroll, by Julia Parker Wightman.
Decoration: 4 colored amuletic drawings: at the top a red, blue, and black angel guards the owner with upraised sword; at the center is a decorative panel with a face within a square that forms the center of a cross motif with geometrical designs; near the end is another face surrounded by rays that extend in four directions; at the end is a stylized cruciform motif. The prayer texts are written between the drawings. Decorative bars are painted at the stitched junctions of the vellum sections. The entire length of the scroll has a narrow red border on both sides. Text is written in black and red.
Binding: in brown morocco cylinder case lined with colorful paper stamped in geometrical designes, labeled: Ethiopian prayer scroll, by Julia Parker Wightman.
Script
Ethiopic
Language
Ge'ez
Century
Catalog link
Classification
Department