Catalog Archive
Auction 119, Lot 868

"[Illuminated Leaf]", Anon.

Subject: Medieval Manuscripts

Period: 1450 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
5.5 x 7.3 inches
14 x 18.5 cm
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Book of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity, but modeled on the Divine Office, a cycle of daily devotions, prayers and readings, performed by members of religious orders and the clergy. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight hours (times for prayer ): Matins, Lauds. Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. During the Middle Ages, the leaves making up a Book of Hours were written by hand on expensive parchment and beautifully illuminated with jewel-like pigments and gold leaf. These illuminated manuscripts combined the collaborative efforts of an array of highly skilled craftspeople; requiring the joint labors of the parchmenter, professional scribes to write the text in Gothic script, artists to illuminate the pages with decorations, and masterful binders to complete the process.

Lovely vellum leaf created in Paris. This leaf has a magnificent initial on the recto and the verso, in red, blue, white and burnished gold with vines and flowers within, leading to a panel border with forget-me-nots, gold ivy leaves on fine stems and lovingly rendered strawberries in brilliant colors. Both sides have a number of illuminated initials highlighted in sparkling gold.

References:

Condition: A

Estimate: $350 - $400

Sold for: $400

Closed on 5/9/2007

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