Bifolium missal leaf.
Germany: circa 1400-1500.
Bifolium on vellum, 458 x 318 mm. (each leaf), each leaf written in double columns of 32 lines, ruled with ink, dark brown ink with rubrics and brown ink initials, two with decorative penwork, capitals touched with red, full margins. original sewn repairs in lower margin, a couple of original marginal creases; in fine original condition.
A handsome bifolium leaf from a large lectern manuscript. The decorative penwork initials, in one instance forming a human profile, are characteristic of the German style of this period. Large volumes, like the one from which these pages derive, were introduced by the Carolingians and eventually replaced the multi-volume sets required for the performance of religious observances: A proliferation of private chapels with minimal staff and a burgeoning quantity of regular observances, often paid for by the donations of the faithful, necessitated a streamlining of the religious process.
A handsome bifolium leaf from a large lectern manuscript. The decorative penwork initials, in one instance forming a human profile, are characteristic of the German style of this period. Large volumes, like the one from which these pages derive, were introduced by the Carolingians and eventually replaced the multi-volume sets required for the performance of religious observances: A proliferation of private chapels with minimal staff and a burgeoning quantity of regular observances, often paid for by the donations of the faithful, necessitated a streamlining of the religious process.
Complete bifolia are rare on the market, and this one, with particularly wide margins and in a fine gothic script, is particularly impressive. Another leaf from this impressive manuscript is in the Shøyen Collection, Oslo and London.
Condition Report: Original sewn repairs in lower margin, a couple of original marginal creases; in fine original condition.
Price (AUD): $3,250.00
US$2,125.48 Other currencies