Illuminated Manuscript – Mincha and Arvit for Weekdays and Shabbat, Songs, Kiddush and Havdalah, Blessing of the ...

Illuminated Manuscript – Mincha and Arvit for Weekdays and Shabbat, Songs, Kiddush and Havdalah, Blessing of the Moon and Hallel – Baghdad, 1897

Illuminated manuscript, Mincha and Arvit for weekdays and Shabbat, with Shir HaShirim and Kabbalat Shabbat. [Baghdad], 1897.
Complete manuscript, masterfully scribed and decorated throughout. Pocket format. Semi-cursive, square Oriental script. Enlarged, decorated initials, with floral ornaments in various colors. Each page of text enclosed in a border. Additional ornaments.
Includes: Patach Eliyahu, Mincha and Arvit for weekdays, Shir HaShirim, Kabbalat Shabbat, Arvit for Shabbat, piyyutim and Kiddush for Friday night, Birkat HaMazon, Mincha for Shabbat, Havdalah, blessing of the moon, Amidah prayer for the Three Festivals, and Hallel.
"Carpet page" on the first page, with a LaMenatze'ach Menorah in the center, containing the name of the scribe and year of writing: Ezra Tzion Menashe Aharon Shlomo Yitzchak Eliya Sofer, 1897. Additional "carpet page" on the final page, stating the name of the scribe. Additional inscription on p. 37a: "Tzion Sofer".
A few of the ornaments were colored in watercolor, while most were colored in colored pencils or pastel colors (perhaps at a later date).

[1], 98 leaves (late foliation, in pencil). Approx. 11.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor ink fading in several places. Several leaves detached or loose. Original leather binding, with leather clasps; minor defects to binding.

Reference:
1. The 'Shiviti – Menorah', dissertation by Esther Juhasz. Jerusalem, 2004, p. 435 (Hebrew).
2. 101 Sacred Hebrew Songs, edited by Yair Harel and Uri Kroizer. Jerusalem, the Hebrew University, [2017], p. 26 and p. 88.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, IQ.011.002.