medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
As promised is here my first posting on important dismembered manuscripts
currently on the market.
This is about a small nice 'Livre d'Heures' of good quality (from c.1390-1400).
It was complete until it was sold by Sotheby's less than a year ago.
Sotheby's Western & Oriental Manuscripts, Sale L08240, 8 July 2008 lot 28.
133 leaves, c. 147 x 109 mm, 12 lines written in a fine Gothic bookhand.
Sold for GBP 13,750,- (The identity of the buyer is known to me).
Only a few weeks later did part of this manuscript turn up for sale, like the
complete calendar, which p.t. is eBay item=200265750736.
Reference to leaves offered by Reiss & Sohn 126 and Hartung & Hartung 122,
please see below. *
One positive effect of being confronted with books of hours one leaf at a time
is that we are compelled to actually read the
text, in order to know its original
position in the book. The process of reconstruction has furnished some
remarkable knew knowledge and insight into the religious mentality of the
individuals who ordered these manuscripts.
Todays discovery did I find on a leaf from the 'Vigilie defunctorum' (Office of
de Dead), where a very rare detail turned up when looking at a leaf which
was part of Reiss & Sohn Auktion 126 lot 941 (four leaves)*.
The Office of the Dead does normally not have 'Chapters', but here is
an indisputable example, placed at Lauds after Ps.148 Laudate dominum,
before the canticum Benedictus.
The text reads:
Capitulum: Infelix ego homo qui me liberavit a corpore huius gratiam,
per ihesum xpm salvatorem nostrum. Deo gratias.
V. Requiem eternam dona eis domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
(The same text is known to me from a 'Heures a lusaige de Chartres',
printed in Paris 18. Febr. 1526 by the widow of Thielman Kerver).
There are other unusual features, like additional Gospel Lessons,
divided with the first three in front and three further at the rear of the
manuscript (not mentioned in Sotheby's description).
To follow the sale of this manuscript looks promising to me.
The comments on the supposed 'Use' by Sotheby's is not convincing.
*Reference to sales where pictures still are found on the Internet:
Reiss & Sohn 126 (21st April 2009)
Lot 941 Four leaves [one bifolium and two singles from the Office of the Dead]
(Unsold lot)
Lot 942 Four leaves [two bifolia from the Office of the Dead]
(Unsold lot)
Hartung & Hartung 122 (4th May 2009)
Lot 56 9 leaves in a lot consisting of a complete gathering of 8 plus
a joined single leaf (only one bad photo showing Ps.41
'Quemadmodum desiderat' apparently with folio number 118).
Among other much better pictures on eBay from the same manuscript,
search f.ex:
item=200301801560
item=370148590698
This was all for today
Best
Erik Drigsdahl
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..................................................................................................................
Erik Drigsdahl CHD Center for Håndskriftstudier
Kapelvej 25B 3.tv. E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
DK-2200 Copenhagen N Phone: +45 + 3537 2047
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