c 1480 MEDIEVAL BOOK OF HOURS LEAF,FRANCE ILLUMINATED BORDERS w BIRD and SNAIL

Description

Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours Leaf, France, c. 1480-1500
Illuminated borders with
bird
and
snail
Well-known
and important content
IM-12869:
Original leaf from a medieval manuscript
Book of Hours
. 22 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink in
lettre bâtarde
script on animal vellum.
Size is 157x103mm – 6.18 x 4 inches.
Rubrics in blue.
Two illuminated two-line initials in
white & gray acanthus with floral infill on liquid gold ground;
eight illuminated one-line initials
in gold, on red or blue;
Elaborately decorated panel borders
illuminated in colors & liquid gold with a floral and geometric design with a bird (recto) and snail (verso)
Northern France, c.
1480-1500
.
The
illuminated two-line “D” begins Psalm 66 (King James 67)
complete
: “
Deus misereatur
…” (
May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us
.
That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all nations. Let people confess to thee, O God: let all people give praise to thee.  Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for thou judgest the people with justice, and directest the nations upon earth. Let the people, O God, confess to thee: let all the people give praise to thee: the earth hath yielded her fruit. May God, our God bless us, may God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him).
The
illuminated two-line “B” begins Daniel 3:57-60
: “
Benedicite
…” (
All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever
…
).
This Book of Hours leaf was scribed circa 1480-1500
This is a beautiful and highly ornamental original,
about 525
years old
, not a reproduction. It is in exceptionally nice condition as shown in the photos. The colors and gold are  fresh and bright.
It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
.
Books of Hours
are personal prayer books of a devout and status-conscious society and are not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time. They reveal a unique combination of sacred and secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience that could both appreciate and afford them.
We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.