This fragment contains the trousseau of the richest woman mentioned in the Genizah. It lists all the items she is bringing into the marriage. A wife’s possessions became her husband’s property. But in the event of a divorce or widowhood she was entitled to receive the dowry’s full value; this is why the dowry records the value of each item. It was, in effect, a married woman’s insurance policy.

Egypt, 12th century

Judaeo-Arabic, paper

T-S J1.29