Parisian Book of Hours illuminated leaf c.1465: Panels of delicate rinceaux illuminations on both sides.

Recto:15 lines of text in Latin written on vellum in black ink in a gothic bookhand. An intricate panel of illuminations runs the length of the text in a style known as rinceaux. The illuminated panel features acanthus leaves in blue and liquid gold outlined in red & orange, along with swirling tendrils bearing coloured flowers, foliage and gold bezants. Five one-line initials illuminated in burnished gold on grounds of red, blue and white outlined in black, and three line fillers.

Verso: As Recto, but with text in two sizes, two one-line illuminated initials and an equally fine panel of illuminations.

Source: Northern France, probably Paris

Date: c.1465

Content: The text on Recto is a section of Psalm 137 (KJV138). The illuminated initial 'I' on the second line begins verse 4:

In quacumque die invocavero te, exaudi me: multiplicabis in anima mea virtutem. Confiteantur tibi Domine omnes reges terrae: quia audierunt omnia verba oris tui. Et cantent in viis Domini: quoniam magna est gloria Domini.

(In what day soever I shall call on thee, hear me: thou shalt multiply strength in my soul. Let all the Kings of the earth O Lord confess to thee: because they have heard all the words of thy mouth.

And let them sing in the ways of our Lord: because great is the glory of our Lord.)

The Psalm finishes on Verso and is followed by two antiphons and The Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Condition: The leaf is in very good/fine condition, on clean vellum with just the expected edge browning which is masked off by the mat. The beautifully executed illuminations retain their original bright colours and lustrous gold. The leaf is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.

Size: Size of leaf: approx. 170x130 mm. Text and illuminated area : approx. 95x95 mm. Please note that postage is invoiced separately: Australia $20, overseas, ask for quote.

Notes:Books of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity who wished to emulate the cycle of daily devotions followed by the clergy but without taking actual vows. The contents grew out of the psalter but included a mixed variety of other types of material - hymns, lessons, biblical readings, calendars etc. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight Hours (times for prayer): Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.