Seder table from BL Add 14761, f. 28v

Historiated initial-word panel ~Ha lahma aniya~ (The Bread of Affliction), at the beginning of the text of the Haggadah. Beneath the initial words, a miniature depicting a family by the Seder table with the master of the house placing the basket of unleavened bread on the head of one of his children. Full foliate border inhabited by animals and dragons.

Placing the basket over the head of the participants was a Sephardi custom and it was considered as a symbolic way to experience the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt carrying the dough on their backs (See Metzger 1982, p. 260). Image taken from f. 28v of Haggadah, liturgical poems and biblical readings for Passover (The 'Barcelona Haggadah'), Sephardic rite. Written in Hebrew.

seder table seder table hebrew manuscripts medieval miniatures initials historiated initials ancient egypt egypt poetry poem manuscript decoration haggadah passover history of israel literature illuminated initials medieval manuscript illustrated books catalonia spain passover seder master of the house illuminated manuscripts illumination of books and manuscripts british library

1300 - 1500

British Library

http://europeana.eu/

Public Domain