Collection of cuttings with initials from choirbooks, in Latin, on vellum [mainly Spain, fifteenth to sixteenth century]

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

29 cuttings: (i) 12 cuttings with single initials, the largest 200mm. by 165mm., the initials in red or blue with ornamental panels of blank vellum within their bodies, ornate and precise penwork surrounds and interiors in contrasting colour, the surrounds often picking out small plant-leaves in blank vellum, and penwork in the interiors creating sprays of mirrored foliage separated by numerous dabs of liquid gold, some initials also with borders with same golden dabs and large bezants connected by coloured penwork, single rastrum 29mm., text in large professional script, capitals formed of angular flourishes and touched in yellow, one cutting with the stamp “C.E.” (Lugt no.530: Ch. Eggimann, 1863-48, of Geneva and Paris), Spain, late fifteenth or early sixteenth century; (ii) cutting with an initial ‘U’, 125mm. by 119mm., variegated in red and blue with penwork in same picking out six clusters of berries within the initial and a beaked bird’s head at its upper left-hand corner, back with text and music on a 4-line red stave, rastrum 52mm., in French style but with penwork that is overly ornate and so more probably Spain, fifteenth century; (iii) 9 other initials, decorated with penwork and coloured wash, probably Spain, fifteenth or sixteenth century; (iv) 5 other initials, decorated with colour or illumination, including one with finely painted foliage on burnished gold ground (centre of initial and part of body on one side cut away), probably Spain, or perhaps Italy, fifteenth or sixteenth century