The Golden
Haggadah is one of the finest of the surviving Haggadah manuscripts
from medieval Spain. The Haggadah, which literally means
'narration', is the Hebrew service-book used in Jewish households
on Passover Eve at a festive meal to commemorate the Exodus
from Egypt.
It is one of the most frequently decorated Jewish books.
The fact that it was intended for use at home with its main
aim being to educate the young, provides ample scope for artistic
creativity.
The Golden Haggadah was probably made near Barcelona in
about 1320. In addition to the Haggadah text itself the
manuscript contains liturgical Passover poems according
to the Spanish rite. The text is preceded by a series of
full-page miniatures depicting scenes mainly from the Book
of Exodus. These sumptuous illuminations set against gold-tooled
backgrounds earned the manuscript its name and were executed
by two artists in the northern French Gothic style.
The 17th-century Italian binding has an elaborate border
on each cover. Hebrew is written from right to left, so
the Golden Haggadah opens from the right.
British
Library Add. MS 27210
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