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Two leaves with large animal initials, decorated manuscripts on vellum [Italy, mid-twelfth century]
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
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Description
- Vellum
2 leaves: comprising (a) bifolium from a Lectionary, each leaf 310mm. by 213mm., with a large and detailed line-drawn lion with a foliage tongue and tail (150mm. high) grasping at the text with his long claws and forming an initial 'F' (opening "Fratres: Hoc enim ..."), 8 large initials with yellow and green infill, double column, 28 lines in brown ink, leaves numbered "12" and "13" in modern pencil, slight scuffs, else good, Italy (probably southern Italy), mid-twelfth century; (b) leaf from St.Augustine's Sermo 190 (Migne, PL.39, col.2100), 365mm. by 275mm., with a large initial 'I' enclosing a winged green dragon on a blue and burgundy ground (115mm. high), opening "Institutio solempnititis (sic) hodierne ...", double column, 40 lines in brown ink, 2 red initials on verso, slightly trimmed, small hole and some scuffing to initial, Italy, mid-twelfth century
Catalogue Note
Other leaves from the same manuscript as (a) have appeared in our rooms, 8 July 2008, lot 2, and Pirages, Cat.57, no.64; but none with this level of decoration.