Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 862

"[Illuminated Leaf]", Anon.

Subject: Medieval Manuscripts

Period: 1430 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4.3 x 6 inches
10.9 x 15.2 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.

A nice vellum leaf from a French Book of Hours. Both sides are embellished with initials and line fillers illuminated with burnished gold leaf and the recto margin is decorated with a delicate panel of ivy leaves. The text is from the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

References:

Condition: B+

Toned with some marginal stains.

Estimate: $200 - $250

Unsold

Closed on 9/23/2009

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