Collection of fragments from illuminated manuscripts, in Latin and French, on vellum [France, thirteenth to fourteenth century]

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

Catalogue Note

9 cuttings: (a) 5 cuttings of initials from a Canon Law manuscript, the largest 85mm. by 40mm., with angular initials with interlocking bodies in blue and pink, enclosing stylised ivy leaves, a simple and precise clean-shaven man’s head (in the early Parisian style with a round white face, line-drawn features, and hair that cascades and bunches at his shoulders: cf. Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris, 1977, fig.240) and a small fish with red gills, all on bi-coloured grounds, remains of text in a rounded early gothic hand and tall thin initials, France, late thirteenth century; (b) cutting from a devotional text in French mentioning St. Elizabeth, 170mm. by 45mm., one illuminated initial and a text bar on one side formed from gold and blue bars terminating in gold ivy leaves, 28 lines in an early gothic hand, France, c.1300; (c) 3 cuttings from liturgical books, each with a large initial variegated in red or blue, with elaborate penwork infill forming a puzzle initial, 200mm. by 70mm., 264mm. by 127mm., and 225mm. by 310mm., France, thirteenth or early fourteenth century