Lot 106

Heinrich Suso, Horologium sapientiae, in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper [Germany, 1426]

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Paper

252 leaves, 155mm. by 110mm., complete, collation: i-xxi^{12, single column, 19-23 lines in light brown ink in a cursive hand, capitals touched in red, explicit and 3-line initials in red, leaves at front and back reattached to volume and restored, slight stains, else good condition,}early blind-tooled red leather over wooden boards (some tears in leather exposing thongs), binding skilfully restored, traces of five metal bosses on each cover, remains of single clasp

Provenance

Bergendal MS.101; bought by Joseph Pope in our rooms, 7 December 1992, lot 39: Bergendal catalogue no.101; Stoneman, 'Guide', p.204.

Catalogue Note

text

This is a handsome copy of one of the great mystical works of the Middle Ages, dated 1426 on fol.252v. The Horologium sapientiae or Clock of Wisdom was composed c.1334 by Heinrich Suso (1295-1366). "On the surface, the Horologium sapientiae reads like a semi-autobiographical, semi-lyrical account for laymen and novices of Suso's mystical experiences ... couched in the language of chivalric love. At the same time, however, Suso makes his book a vehicle for indictments of disorder and deterioration within the Church and in the study of theology in the universities" (E.P. Spencer in Scriptorium xvii, 1963, pp.278-9). The metaphor of the mechanical clock referred to in the title is described here on fol.2r, and is one of the earliest accounts of the invention, used by Suso as a symbol of the soul and body of man which need winding and maintenance in order to run smoothly.