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f.5v. Scenes from the life of Jacob.
'Haggada Resach', Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'),
Barcelona, Catalonia, Northeast Spain, 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 14th century.



Scenes from the life of Jacob

Title: Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah')
Origin: Spain, N.E., Catalonia (Barcelona)
Date: 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 14th century
Language: Hebrew
Source: Haggada Resach, British Library, Ms. Or. 2884, London.

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Referenced as Figure 403 in Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, Western Europe and the Crusader States by David Nicolle.
403 A-L Haggada Resach, Jewish-Spanish, late 13th/early 14th centuries
(British Library, Ms. Or. 2884, London, England)
A-B - Maces of Israelites; C - People coming to Joseph for judgement; D - Pharaoh in the Red Sea; E - Egyptian soldiers; F - Joseph as governor of Egypt; G - Joseph’s brothers; H - Esau’s dagger; I - Joseph in the fields; J - Cain and Abel; K - Joseph’s father; L - Joseph’s brother. The Haggada Resach is an interesting pictorial source as it can be considered ‘neutral’ in its portrayal of figures based on Christian or Islamic types. Generally speaking it is, however, in northern Spanish style, and is difficult to date. The weapons seem to indicate an early 14th-century origin. They include numerous maces of rather simple form (A, B and I), one having a very long haft. A heavy axe is shown (K), as is a broad-bladed dagger of the basilard type (H). Swords are straight and mostly tapering (C, E, F, G and K), though one seems to reflect a slightly-curved sabre of almost Mamluk Middle Eastern form with asymmetrical quillons (L). One scabbard is clearly hung from two straps, probably from a baldric (C). Infantry spears have broad but somewhat exaggerated blades (E). Shields include small round bucklers (C and E), a small hand-held kite type (E) and a larger flat-topped cavalry shield (D). A horseman, the Pharaoh, wears a full mail hauberk and rides a caparisoned horse, while the foot-soldiers have mail coifs or conical helmets (E).