Lot 31
  • 31

Collection of leaves from Books of Hours, from illuminated manuscripts on vellum

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description

5 leaves from various manuscripts, (a) a single leaf from a Calendar, 164mm. by 109mm., 22 lines in red, blue or liquid gold in a fine late Gothic hand, five small initials in liquid gold on coloured grounds, one large initial 'KL' in blue with white penwork on gold ground, two-compartmented miniature 65mm. by 57mm., within architectural frame enclosing a man and a woman harvesting corn, and Leo in the form of a lion heightened with liquid gold, both before hilly landscape with medieval city in background, three-quarter decorated border on both recto and verso of foliage enclosing seven saints: including full-length portraits of a pope, a bishop, an abbot, two female saints (one with supplicant), a bearded male saint and a half-length St. Christopher, northern French, c. 1480; (b) single leaf from a Book of Hours, 141mm. by 105mm., 26 lines in black ink in a small and somewhat cursive hand, numerous 1-line initials in red or blue, on recto: one 6-line initial 'S' containing a naked child with hands clasped in prayer, all within text frame with naturalistic flowers on liquid gold grounds, two-sided decorated border with acanthus-leaves and a small dragon-like creature, bas-de-page containing miniature of Peter beating Malchus, who lays at his feet with a dab of red where his ear previously was, as Christ intercedes, other disciples asleep behind the scene, all before a detailed grassy landscape with a building-filled skyline, probably France, second half of the fifteenth century; (c) single leaf from a Book of Hours, 180mm. by 125mm., ruled in pink for 16 lines in black ink in an accomplished late Gothic bookhand, rubric in red, one 6-line initial 'O' (opening "O intemerata ...") in pink with white penwork, enclosing the Pietà before a pale red sky heightened in liquid gold, all on burnished gold ground, three-quarter decorated border with acanthus-leaf sprays and other floral decoration, France, third quarter of fifteenth century; (d) single leaf from a Book of Hours, 161mm. by 115mm., large arch-topped miniature of Virgin and Christ Child enthroned before a kneeling patron, in detailed architectural scene, with full decorated border in rustic style of acanthus-leaves and a jester and a man in a turban holding a banderole (now illegible), 3-line initial 'O' (opening "Obsecro te ...") in blue on pink ground with white penwork, three lines of black ink (now faded) in late Gothic hand on recto, four 1-line initials in liquid gold on coloured grounds, four lines of text, single border panel in simple foliate design and early ownership inscription dated 1529 on verso, France, second half of fifteenth century; (e) single leaf from a Book of Hours, 197mm. by 130mm., large miniature 95mm. by 84mm. of Job dressed in blue robes edged with ermine, kneeling before an altar offering a lamb to God who stands behind the altar a liquid gold sceptre in his hand, all set in a Gothic interior, and surrounded by banderoles intertwined with the border of the miniature containing descriptions of the scene and Job's testing by Satan, three-quarter border decoration with naturalistic flower-cuttings strewn on a liquid gold ground, 1-line initials in red and blue, 9 lines of text in black ink in lettre batârde, southern Netherlands, end of fifteenth century; plus one mid-fifteenth century text leaf from a Book of Hours in Dutch; all in excellent condition and in card mounts

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

All from the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.