Ian Ehling
Head of Department
Lot 14
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS: HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH. 4 illuminated portable Bible leaves on vellum,
11 December 2020, 10:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$4,462.50 inc. premium
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ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS: HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH.
4 illuminated portable Bible leaves on vellum, Including:
1. Leaf with 2 historiated initials, with text from the openings of Haggai and Zechariah, France, mid-13th century, 152 x 105 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, rubrics in red, capitals struck with red, headlines in red and blue, chapter numbers in red and blue, one of these with penwork extensions running the length of the column, recto with one three-line initial in pink with white tracery on a blue ground accented with gold dots, the same side with a two-line "I" in red with cascading penwork in red and blue and with an ascending bar border in blue, pink, and gold containing an elongated full-length image of the Prophet Haggai; verso with a three-line initial extending into a 29-line descender with a full-length portrait of the Prophet Zechariah. Shoulder notes in a contemporary hand, trimmed a little close at fore-edge (minor loss to scribal corrections), a couple of mild smudges to margins.
2. Leaf with an historiated inital and text from Ecclesiaticus, France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script. Capitals struck in red, rubrics in red, running title and chapter numbers in blue and red, two one-line initials in red or blue, penwork decoration in red and blue emanating from the chapter numbers and extending into the lower margins, two five-line initials, one inhabited by a King performing a blessing, the other decorated, both painted pink or blue on contrasting ground, the head or tail jutting into the margin, embellished with dots of gold. Very minor soiling, otherwise fine.
3. Leaf with text from the interpretation of Hebrew names, beginning with "A," France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm., triple column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, numerous one-line initials in red or blue, and an historiated initial with a very long tail, the capital showing a scribe at a writing table, the initial painted blue and pink and embellished with gold dots, an additional, smaller extension at the top of the initial, terminating with the head of a small white beast. Decorative extension at the top slightly trimmed, vellum with minor abrasions and thin in places (resulting in some tiny holes), left margin of recto cutting into the initial's descender.
4. Leaf with text from Psalm 11, France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, rubrics in red, numerous one-line initials in red or blue, four two-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork, and a five-line historiated initial showing King David as an Orant in water, being blessed by a haloed God. Very fine.
1. Leaf with 2 historiated initials, with text from the openings of Haggai and Zechariah, France, mid-13th century, 152 x 105 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, rubrics in red, capitals struck with red, headlines in red and blue, chapter numbers in red and blue, one of these with penwork extensions running the length of the column, recto with one three-line initial in pink with white tracery on a blue ground accented with gold dots, the same side with a two-line "I" in red with cascading penwork in red and blue and with an ascending bar border in blue, pink, and gold containing an elongated full-length image of the Prophet Haggai; verso with a three-line initial extending into a 29-line descender with a full-length portrait of the Prophet Zechariah. Shoulder notes in a contemporary hand, trimmed a little close at fore-edge (minor loss to scribal corrections), a couple of mild smudges to margins.
2. Leaf with an historiated inital and text from Ecclesiaticus, France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script. Capitals struck in red, rubrics in red, running title and chapter numbers in blue and red, two one-line initials in red or blue, penwork decoration in red and blue emanating from the chapter numbers and extending into the lower margins, two five-line initials, one inhabited by a King performing a blessing, the other decorated, both painted pink or blue on contrasting ground, the head or tail jutting into the margin, embellished with dots of gold. Very minor soiling, otherwise fine.
3. Leaf with text from the interpretation of Hebrew names, beginning with "A," France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm., triple column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, numerous one-line initials in red or blue, and an historiated initial with a very long tail, the capital showing a scribe at a writing table, the initial painted blue and pink and embellished with gold dots, an additional, smaller extension at the top of the initial, terminating with the head of a small white beast. Decorative extension at the top slightly trimmed, vellum with minor abrasions and thin in places (resulting in some tiny holes), left margin of recto cutting into the initial's descender.
4. Leaf with text from Psalm 11, France, mid-13th century, 153 x 103 mm, double column, 50 lines in Gothic pearl script, rubrics in red, numerous one-line initials in red or blue, four two-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork, and a five-line historiated initial showing King David as an Orant in water, being blessed by a haloed God. Very fine.