6.587 Ergebnisse
1844Best.-Nr. ST18420aFirenze Florence: David Passigli 1844. 85 x 53 mm. 3 3/8 x 2 1/8". 3 p.l. 326 2 section title 327-659 pp. Contemporary stiff vellum charmingly gilt covers with graceful gilt frame of volutes and flowers central ornament formed by similar tools smooth spine tooled with gilt volutes and flowers forming central panel with gilt lettering a small gilt bird of paradise above and below this marbled endpapers all edges gilt. WITH SPLIT FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS visible when the book is open at the section title for part II the painting on the first half of the leaves A SWEEPING CITY VIEW OF JERUSALEM that on the second part featuring THE DOME OF THE ROCK ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT. With engraved frontispiece portrait of the author and two engravings depicting scenes from the poem all with original tissue guards. Front pastedown with engraved armorial bookplate of William Dunville see below. Doris Varner Welsh A Bibliography of Miniature Books 6611. Corners lightly bumped one spot of light rubbing to gilt on upper cover isolated spots of faint foxing but A VERY FINE SPECIMEN clean and bright inside and out the fore-edge paintings well preserved. This delightful miniature edition is adorned with two fore-edge paintings showing different views of the title city both visible when the book is open to the title page of part II of Tasso's Crusader epic "Jerusalem Delivered." Given the restricted area available for a "canvas" our artist has done a remarkable job both in the level of detail and the sense of space and grandeur the scenes evoke so it is not surprising that this volume was in the Irene Winterstein Collection of Important Miniature Books Christie's sale of 10 March 2000 lot 277 fetching $1455 all in. This is a rare miniature edition: Welsh records only one copy in her bibliography. Our copy belonged to Irish bibliophile and philanthropist William Dunville 1812-1874 who was also a whiskey magnate and magistrate. After its first founder John Dunville died William Dunville his only surviving son became the next chairman of Dunville & Co Belfast who are still famous for their whiskey today. He headed the company from 1851 to 1874. David Passigli unknown books
Best.-Nr. ST18267collection1 FOUR EARLY 20TH CENTURY DIARIES. DE LA RUE'S CONDENSED DIARY AND ENGAGEMENT BOOK FINGER SHAPE FOR 1902 1906 1909 AND 1914. London: De La Rue & Co. 1902-14 77 x 24 mm. 3 x 1". 34 leaves. Four separately issued annual volumes. Diaries with soft leather covers decorated in gilt 1902 in brown morocco 1906 and 1906 in burgundy 1914 in scarlet 1902 diary IN A SILVER FILIGREE SLIPCASE the others in matching morocco cases. 1902 diary with an address noted on Memorandum page otherwise unused; other diaries with neatly written entries in pencil or pen. Front cover of 1902 diary slightly sunned quarter-inch chip to tail of spine corners and extremities of all books lightly rubbed from sliding in and out of cases binding of 1914 book lightly soiled but none of these issues significant and the bindings and cases all generally very well preserved. 2 AVE MARIA. Budapest or Italy ca.: 1970 10 x 11 mm. 3/8 x 7/16". 6 unnumbered leaves three of them blank. Charming burgundy calf upper cover with the head of the Madonna tooled in gilt flat spine with gilt bands. In a black pebble-grain morocco slipcase nestled in fabric inside a 32 x 34 mm. metal box with latch. With a cross printed on the first leaf and a simple engraving of the Madonna's head on the second. Bondy p. 156. Tiny what else scratch to head of spine otherwise A FINE SPECIMEN. This charming minuscule book contains the Latin text of the "Ave Maria" printed on one page. Bondy tells us there is some dispute about its origins with Hungarian bibliophiles claiming it was printed in Budapest and Italian collectors insisting it was Italy. Whatever its place of publication it could scarcely be more charming and it is certainly the most portable prayer book we have ever offered for sale. 3 CHURCH OF ENGLAND. BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. with HYMNS ANCIENT AND MODERN. Oxford: University Press London: William Clowes ca. 1920 60 x 45 mm. 2 1/4 x 1 3/4". 688 pp.; 859 1 pp. Two works bound in one volume. Contemporary ivorine covers and spine silk joints metal silver monogram mounted on upper cover textured white endpapers all edges gilt. Frontispiece of choir boys to first work and of girls' choir to second. Upper corners of spine beginning to lift silk joints a little worn otherwise a fine specimen clean and bright internally in a well-preserved binding. unknown books
1878Prima edizione del cosiddetto "Dantino", uno dei libri più piccoli mai stampati in caratteri mobili, costato 5 anni di fatiche all'editore Gnocchi e ai fratelli Salmin di Padova e oggi ritenuto una vera e ricercatissima curiosità bibliografica. In seguito la proprietà di questa edizione fu acquistata dall'editore Hoepli. In 128mo, mm. 50x30; legatura coeva in pelle con titolo, filetti, tagli e bordura ai contropiatti dorati, fogli di guardia in velluto. Pag. (6)-499-(1), ritratto di Dante in antiporta. Si tratta dei famosi caratteri "occhio di mosca", secondo Bondy, the most sensational of all microscopic type-faces used in miniature books (pp. 94-95). Questa edizione costò cinque anni di fatiche e, pare, ferì gli occhi sia del compositore sia del correttore. Fu tirata in 1000 esemplari, ricercatissimi. Condizioni perfette. Mambelli, 398. Codice inv.1031031
1988Best.-Nr. 3444NICE. EDITIONS D'ART SEFER. LE CHANT DES SPHERES. MONACO. EDITIONS ARTS ET COULEURS. 1988-1990. 2 VOLUMES IN-FOLIO DE 140 + (8) ET 134 + (8) PAGES, DANS UNE MAGNIFIQUE RELIURE DE L'EDITEUR PLEIN CHAGRIN NOIR, DOS ORNE D'UN CAISSON EN CREUX AVEC DECOR FLORAL ET TITRE DORES, PLATS BISEAUTES, PLAT SUPERIEUR RICHEMENT ORNE D'UNE PAGODE EN RELIEF EN ROUGE ET EN DORE, AVEC INCRUSTATIONS DE PLAQUES EMAILLEES A DECOR POLYCHROME D'UNE PAGODE ET DE DRAGONS, TETE DOREE, NON ROGNES, SOUS EMBOITAGES 1/2 CHAGRIN NOIR (33,5 X 39,5 X 18,5 CENTIMETRES ENVIRON), DOS IDENTIQUES A CELUI DE L'OUVRAGE, LE RESTE RECOUVERT D'UNE SOIE MOIREE ROUGE (SEFER RELIEUR). ILLUSTRE DE NOMBREUSES COMPOSITIONS IN ET HORS-TEXTE, DANS LE STYLE DE L'ENLUMINURE, MISES EN COULEURS A LA MAIN. PREMIER TIRAGE LIMITE A 1280 EXEMPLAIRES NUMEROTES, DONT 30 HORS-COMMERCE. UN DES 150 SUR VELIN D'ARCHES COMPORTANT 2 ILLUSTRATIONS ORIGINALES SIGNEES, UNE PLANCHE HORS-TEXTE, ENCADREE ET UNE SUITE DU TRAIT EN LAQUE ROUGE DES ILLUSTRATIONS IN ET HORS-TEXTE, CELUI-CI PORTANT LE NUMERO 149 ET ACCOMPAGNE DE SON CERTIFICAT D'AUTHENTICITE AU MEME NUMERO SIGNE PAR L'ARTISTE ET L'EDITEUR. LES ILLUSTRATIONS ORIGINALES ET LA SUITE SONT INSEREES DANS UNE CHEMISE RECOUVERTE DE SUEDINE NOIRE AVEC LE PLAT SUPERIEUR ORNE D'IDEOGRAMMES CHINOIS DORES. INFIMES PETITS DEFAUTS EXTERIEURS SANS AUCUNE GRAVITE, SINON SUPERBE EXEMPLAIRE.
Best.-Nr. 112452Mughal India mid-19th century possibly with later additions. . Single leaf of album page with drawing 285 x 165 mm; framed within multiple rulings and a wider floral border delicate floral motif to borders heightened in gilt reverse with a few shelf and reference numbers to reverse some age-toning and chips to pigmentation of border decorations leaf a little creased in places. An attractive example of Mughal border designs decorating a skilfully drawn hunting scene showing the imminent capture of a lion in hunt. Mughal India, mid-19th century, possibly with later additions. unknown
1823Best.-Nr. ABC_48016Amsterdam: M. Westerman 1823. In the original pink and green cardboard case with glass lid green printed paper wrappers with cream paper dust jackets with the titles in manuscript on the front. Ca 7.7 x 6.5 cm. With 31 engraved plates and 5 engraved maps including a folding world map. 10 volumes. Comprising:1 De aardrijkskunde.2 De gewijde geschiedenis.3 Vaderlandsche geschiedenis.4 Natuurlijke geschiedenis der viervoetige dieren.5 De natuurlijke geschiedenis der vogelen.6 Natuurlijke geschiedenis der insekten kruipende dieren en visschen.7 De kruidkunde.8 Zedelijke verhalen.9 Arabische vertellingen.10 De mythologie. Complete set of the first edition of a charming miniature library preserved in the original box. This educational set for children contains works on geography Dutch history classical mythology natural history and the Bible with all the plates and maps included. A French edition was published in the same year but replaced the volume on Dutch history with a work on French history. Due to the charm of this miniature library a facsimile edition was published in 1984. The present set however is the first edition which is rare on the market and only available in a few libraries.Many miniature books were primarily written for children. As was usually the case with children's books published before the 20th century miniature books were typically instructional or educational in nature. Although they have existed since at least the early 17th century they were only specifically marketed towards children from the mid-18th century onwards. Children's books from the end of the 18th century were often influenced by the theories of Jean Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778 who thought that children should learn through play and at their own pace. According to Welsh the present works show Rousseau's ideas because they present the information through short stories.The edges and corners of the box are somewhat scuffed and the gold trimming on the lid has come loose in some spots with some loss of material. The paper wrappers of some of the volumes show some signs of wear. A few pages loose in ads 5 8 and 9 but they are still included. Otherwise in very good condition.l Saalmink p. 211; Welsh A bibliography of miniature books 1247; cf. Bondy p. 75 French ed.; Welsh The history of miniature books p. 74 2nd ed. M. Westerman, unknown
Best.-Nr. 108251aafs.d., 11.9x6 cm. Durchbrochener Silbereinband über Samt. Goldschnitt.
(mm. 52x34), 1 c.b. + cc. 4 nn. + pp. 500, con un ritratto di Dante inciso in antip. Legatura coeva in pieno marocchino scuro, dorso a cinque scomparti con titoli in oro. Sguardie marmorizzate, tagli colorati in rosso. Uno dei 1000 esemplari del celebre "Dantino" stampato a Padova, dai fratelli Salmin, per U.Hoepli. "Antonio Farina de Plaisance, qui fut parmi les plus habiles graveurs que l'Italie ait jamais eut, gravait en 1834 les poinçons de corps 2 sur 3 points d'un caractére microscopique, qui a été fondu seulement en 1850 pour le compte de Giacomo Gnocchi. Après des efforts inutiles pour l'utiliser, le caractère passa aux frères Salmin de Padoue, qui l'employère à imprimer en 1878 mille exemplaires du fameux Dantino, livre qui est généralement appelé Le Plus Petit Livre du Monde à cause plutot de la petitesse du caractère que des dimensions de la page" (Fumagalli, Lexicon, pag. 276). Cfr. anche Mikrobiblion n. 77. Esemplare molto buono, in cofanetto.
1985Edizione limitata numerata a mano da 1 a 998, esemplare n°.800. Catalogo di Gigetta Dalli Regoli. Il Cofanetto è di pelle con titoli d'oro. Le tavole presenti sono in facsimile. Firenze, 1985; br. in cofanetto, pp. 100, ill. b/n, tavv. b/n e col. italiano ril. in cofanetto
1796Best.-Nr. 108121796. Approx. 40 brush & ink drawings in black & white. Scroll 180 x 1440 mm. central core roller. At end in rough trans.: “Many generations of SÅami bonsan 100 rules & styles. Extremely secret. All the information passed down by mouth is listed here. Handle this information with great care and keep it close. Given by Ishioka Seisaku 石岡正朔 in September 1796 to ZuihÅken no Yahiroko 瑞芳軒之八尋å.” Bonsan miniature mountain gardens is a sub-category of bonkei 盆景 tray-garden landscapes. Created to fit into small containers good bonsan convey the texture color and form of natural mountainous scenery. These small tray or pot landscapes have their origins in 10th-century China. The text in our scroll is a distillation of the teachings of SÅami ShinsÅ 相阿彌真相 1472-1525 painter art critic and artistic adviser to the Ashikaga shoguns in Kyoto master of the tea and incense ceremonies and landscape gardener. He established rules for and a school SÅami ryu of garden design and flower arrangement as well as the rules and styles for bonsan. “As a landscape gardener he designed two of the most celebrated Zen temple gardens in Japan: the RyÅan Temple garden in Kyoto an outstanding example of kare sansui a dry landscape technique in which combinations of stones and sand are used to suggest mountains and water; and the Daisei-in garden a miniature reproduction of a natural landscape also in the kare sansui style. It is believed that he also planned the garden of the famed Silver Pavilion Ginkaku Temple in Kyoto the villa built by his major patron Ashikaga Yoshimasa.”–Encycl. Brit. online. The author begins by extolling the pleasures of bonsan and offers advice on how to observe and enjoy them. He continues with descriptions of the materials used miniature trees sand rocks etc. seasonal variations the kinds of trays square rectangular circular and colors red white blue yellow brown and black and advice on where how and when to display them. The text also discusses the styles created over the centuries and famous sites that could be replicated on the trays. All of this is finely illustrated in a series of about 40 fine black & white brush drawings illustrating the many varieties of bonsan design. Ishioka was a resident of Kyoto and gave instruction on creating miniature gardens. He left another manuscript on miniature gardening see WorldCat 1451711637. In fine condition. Some worming mostly marginal. Preserved in a modern wooden box. unknown
1796Best.-Nr. 108121796. Approx. 40 brush & ink drawings in black & white. Scroll 180 x 1440 mm. central core roller. At end in rough trans.: “Many generations of SÅami bonsan 100 rules & styles. Extremely secret. All the information passed down by mouth is listed here. Handle this information with great care and keep it close. Given by Ishioka Seisaku 石岡正朔 in September 1796 to ZuihÅken no Yahiroko 瑞芳軒之八尋å.” Bonsan miniature mountain gardens is a sub-category of bonkei 盆景 tray-garden landscapes. Created to fit into small containers good bonsan convey the texture color and form of natural mountainous scenery. These small tray or pot landscapes have their origins in 10th-century China. The text in our scroll is a distillation of the teachings of SÅami ShinsÅ 相阿彌真相 1472-1525 painter art critic and artistic adviser to the Ashikaga shoguns in Kyoto master of the tea and incense ceremonies and landscape gardener. He established rules for and a school SÅami ryu of garden design and flower arrangement as well as the rules and styles for bonsan. “As a landscape gardener he designed two of the most celebrated Zen temple gardens in Japan: the RyÅan Temple garden in Kyoto an outstanding example of kare sansui a dry landscape technique in which combinations of stones and sand are used to suggest mountains and water; and the Daisei-in garden a miniature reproduction of a natural landscape also in the kare sansui style. It is believed that he also planned the garden of the famed Silver Pavilion Ginkaku Temple in Kyoto the villa built by his major patron Ashikaga Yoshimasa.”–Encycl. Brit. online. The author begins by extolling the pleasures of bonsan and offers advice on how to observe and enjoy them. He continues with descriptions of the materials used miniature trees sand rocks etc. seasonal variations the kinds of trays square rectangular circular and colors red white blue yellow brown and black and advice on where how and when to display them. The text also discusses the styles created over the centuries and famous sites that could be replicated on the trays. All of this is finely illustrated in a series of about 40 fine black & white brush drawings illustrating the many varieties of bonsan design. Ishioka was a resident of Kyoto and gave instruction on creating miniature gardens. He left another manuscript on miniature gardening see WorldCat 1451711637. In fine condition. Some worming mostly marginal. Preserved in a modern wooden box. unknown books
Best.-Nr. 181092Netherlands: second half of the 15th century. Radiant devotion A vibrant Pentecost scene from a Netherlandish Book of Hours. At the center the Virgin Mary is seated in a deep blue mantle while the Apostles gather around her as the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove from above. An owl is nestled in the lower margin of the border. Ornate borders with scrolling foliage naturalistic flora and fauna and architectural interiors are typical of Southern Netherlandish and Flemish illumination from the late 15th and early 16th century. The style and composition is reminiscent of works by artists of the Utrecht school see for example Walters Ms. W.182 or active in Bruges see Walters Ms. W.183 and 184. Provenance: Stephen C. Massey. Illuminated miniature and border on vellum 133 x 105 mm panted in gold and colours. Presented in a gilt frame with UV protective glass. A little rubbing in outer margins of miniature otherwise well preserved and with gilt bright; small bump to edge of frame on the back. A very good example. hardcover
Best.-Nr. 121365India Rajasthan mid-19th century. . Single folio ink & gouache on paper heightened in gold depicting Lord Hanuman bowing down before Lord Rama and Lakshmana under a willow tree in a green terrain with lotus-adorning rivers full page 307 x 220 mm miniature 222 x 132 mm; miniature framed within double rulings of green and blue borders some light surface abrasion to upper edge of painting causing slight chips to pigment with loss else attractive copy a few ink inscriptions to reverse early gallery stamp of 'The Curious House Rega' good overall condition. A very attractive painting depicting Lord Hanuman taking a deep bow before Lord Rama and Lakshmana visually representing the deep devotion and respect he has for his two protectors. The tranquil landscape forming the backdrop of this scene reflects the serenity of the moment with lotus flowers appearing in rivers on both sides of the figures and a very elegantly depicted willow tree framing them. Likely painted in Rajasthan in the mid-nineteenth century. India, Rajasthan, mid-19th century. unknown
2007Il Salterio di St. Albans, St. Alban’s Psalter. Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim (MS St. God. 1), Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, (Inv. No. M694). Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani, Roma, 2009. Riproduzione in facsimile del manoscritto scritto e miniato in Inghilterra all’inizio del XII secolo nello scriptorium di St. Albans. Ordinato presumibilmente da Geoffrey di Porham, abate di St. Albans, per Cristina di Markyate. il codice (comprendente 150 salmi latini, la Vita di s. Alessio e una lettera di papa Gregorio Magno). All’interno 42 miniature attribuite ad Alexis Master completano il testo composto da 150 salmi latini, la Vita di s. Alessio e una lettera di papa Gregorio Magno. Legatura in pelle con impressioni a secco sui piatti e fermagli dorati di chiusura. Formato 19x28 cm. Pagine 418 (+1). Commentario in italiano (19x29 cm. pagine 277). Cofanetto in pelle con impressioni in oro. Tiratura numerata e limitata di 750 esemplari. Condizioni ottime.
2006La Divina Commedia di Alfonso d'Aragona (Divine Comedy of Alfonso of Aragon). Londra, British Library, Ms. Yates Thompson 36. Sontuoso manoscritto miniato della Divina Commedia di Dante Alighieri. Realizzato a cavallo del XV secolo, nel nord Italia, da due maestri miniatori: Priamo della Quercia e Giovanni de Paolo. Illustrato con 110 miniature inquadriate nei margini inferiori, tre grandi iniziali istoriate con cornici floreali all’inizio dei tre canti, numerose iniziali foliate e tutte le iniziali delle strofe minori delimitate con colori intensi e dorature splendenti. Legatura in velluto di seta con borchie e medaglione centrale e bindelle di chiusura. Formato 26x37 cm. Pagine 380 (190 fogli). Commentario, in due volumi (formato 25x32 cm. 340 pagine totali), a cura di Milvia Bollati. Pregiato cofanetto di custodia. Tiratura limitata e numerata a 750 copie. Condizioni ottime.
2002Il Virgilio Riccardiano (Ms. Ricc. 492). Vergilius Publius Maro: Bucolicon, Georgicon, Aeneis Biblioteca Riccardiana, Firenze. ArtCodex, Modena, 2002. Riproduzione in facsimile delle Bucoliche, Georgiche, Eneide di Virgilio con miniature che rappresentano il viaggio di Enea ambientato città di Firenze al tempo di Lorenzo il Magnifico. Legatura in pelle con cornici di filetto impresse a secco sui piatti. Formato 20x31 cm. Pagine 512. Commentario (21x31 cm. pagine 173) in italiano. Cofanetto in legno pregiato, formato 34x44x13 cm. Tiratura limitata e numerata di 999 copie. Condizioni ottime.
Best.-Nr. 679Istanbul: Ertuğ & Kocabıyık Publications 2000. New. Hardcover. Cloth bdg. Hand-bound by experienced craftsmen in Switzerland. 24x38 cm. In Ottoman Turkish facsimile Turkish transcription and English. 3 volumes set: 352 p. facsimile; 308 2 p. Turkish transcription; 51 2 p. English. Colour ills. First edition. Limited edition. This is a limited edition of 1500 copies handbound in distinctive Japanese cloth embossed with patterns selected from imperial Ottoman textiles and printed on acid free paper. This volume is number 1362. In publisher's special slip case. A miniature-illustrated manuscript of an 18th Century Festival in Ottoman Istanbul The original of this outstanding work which is in the library of the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul contains 137 brilliantly-colored miniatures by Levni the renowned painter of the court of Ahmed III 1703-1740. The miniatures illustrate a fifteen-day festival held on the occasion of the circumcision of four of the Sultan's sons in 1720. Surname-i Vehbi follows in the longstanding Ottoman tradition of preparing specially written and illustrated books to commemorate festivities that took place on special occasions such as royal births weddings and the like. These celebrations were marked by activities that included parades musical performances circus acts and fireworks displays all of which were brilliantly captured and executed by Levni in his miniatures. With one exception the miniatures in this striking volume cover two pages. The text for the book was composed by Vehbi a famed court poet and appears in full in this facsimile edition. A transcription of the original Ottoman text by Dr. Mertol Tulum and a translation into English by Robert Bragner are provided in a separate volume.Introduction essays by two Turkish scholars; Dr. Kuban and Dr. Yerasimos provide the reader a deeper understanding of the Ottoman society. For the facsimile edition a specially produced paper was used to duplicate the appearance and texture of the original volume. State-of-the-art reproduction and printing techniques were employed to ensure that this facsimile edition is a faithful copy of this distinguished work. Hand-bound by experienced craftsmen this is a limited edition of only 1500 copies. Ertuğ & Kocabıyık Publications hardcover
1500Pergamena miniata cm 26 x 39 originariamente appartenente a rilegatura raffigurante al piatto anteriore l'immagine di una figura chimerica, poggiante sul verde di un prato con fondo rosso, compresa in una bordura a filetto in rosso, e al piatto posteriore una decorazione in rosso e blu, presumibilmente ottenuta a mezzo di stampino compresa in doppio filetto rosso e blu. Un altro filetto in rosso degna lo spazio del dorso compreso tra i due piatti. La pergamena, che originariamente avrebbe potuto ricoprire un registro (con buona probabilita' l'animale fantastico potrebbe essere simbolo di un'impresa araldica), fu riutilizzata nel XVII secolo, sfruttando la parte al verso come copertura di un volume a stampa. Questa pergamena dovrebbe rientrare, in particolare per quanto riguarda la decorazione al piatto posteriore, tra i rari esempi di 'legatura a stampo' veneziana, in uso appunto in questa citta' gia' nel XVI secolo. Questa tipologia ornamentale, abbandonata per quasi due secoli, verra' ripresa nella meta' del XVIII secolo, in particolare dai Remondini di Bassano, per la realizzazione delle loro celebri carte xilografiche. Una simile legatura, seppur datata come produzione del XVIII secolo, risulta documentata in: G. Bologna, Legature, Milano, 1998, p. 137.
1490Best.-Nr. ST20853France ca. 1490. 144 x 99 mm. 5 5/8 x 3 3/4". Single column recto with 14 lines in a gothic book hand. Attractively matted and framed. Rubrics in red two two-line initials one painted pink on blue ground with flowers the other painted blue and inhabited by a rampant lion on pink and gold ground recto with a panel border featuring long-stemmed flowers and owls on a pink ground verso WITH A HALF-PAGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURE DEPICTING PENTECOST WITH A FULL BORDER featuring a plethora of different flowers berries greenery songbirds an owl and a butterfly all ON A RICHLY PAINTED GOLD GROUND. Trimmed close on one side and just grazing a border on the opposite side very minor chipping to faces trivial signs of rubbing or wear otherwise a fine leaf--colorful bright and very pleasing to the eye. This leaf contains the customary Pentecost miniature associated with the Hours of the Holy Spirit but with several attributes that set it apart from other examples we have encountered. The miniature here depicts a densely crowded scene with the Virgin at the center surrounded by the apostles each of whom wears a burnished gold halo. Packed tightly together they gaze up at a white dove who emanates small red tongues of fire above their heads. According to biblical tradition this visitation by the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove enabled Christ's disciples to start preaching marking the beginning of the Christian Church. The artist favors an unusual pastel palette choosing pale pink for the walls and eggshell blue for some of the floor tiles as well as bright yellow muted lilac rose and lime green for the robes of the apostles. Looking more closely at the figures we see that each face is carefully individualized each with its own features and expressions. Although most crane their necks to get a view of the miracle unfolding one of the apostles looks directly out at the viewer as if surprised by our presence. Moving outside the miniature we note that the leaf features a particularly exuberant border with tangles of flowers fruit acanthus leaves and several birds including an owl in one corner. There is additional interest on the verso with another bright border painted an intense pink and filled with more flowers and owls. unknown
1490Best.-Nr. ST20853France ca. 1490. 144 x 99 mm. 5 5/8 x 3 3/4". Single column recto with 14 lines in a gothic book hand. Attractively matted and framed. Rubrics in red two two-line initials one painted pink on blue ground with flowers the other painted blue and inhabited by a rampant lion on pink and gold ground recto with a panel border featuring long-stemmed flowers and owls on a pink ground verso WITH A HALF-PAGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURE DEPICTING PENTECOST WITH A FULL BORDER featuring a plethora of different flowers berries greenery songbirds an owl and a butterfly all ON A RICHLY PAINTED GOLD GROUND. Trimmed close on one side and just grazing a border on the opposite side very minor chipping to faces trivial signs of rubbing or wear otherwise a fine leaf--colorful bright and very pleasing to the eye. This leaf contains the customary Pentecost miniature associated with the Hours of the Holy Spirit but with several attributes that set it apart from other examples we have encountered. The miniature here depicts a densely crowded scene with the Virgin at the center surrounded by the apostles each of whom wears a burnished gold halo. Packed tightly together they gaze up at a white dove who emanates small red tongues of fire above their heads. According to biblical tradition this visitation by the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove enabled Christ's disciples to start preaching marking the beginning of the Christian Church. The artist favors an unusual pastel palette choosing pale pink for the walls and eggshell blue for some of the floor tiles as well as bright yellow muted lilac rose and lime green for the robes of the apostles. Looking more closely at the figures we see that each face is carefully individualized each with its own features and expressions. Although most crane their necks to get a view of the miracle unfolding one of the apostles looks directly out at the viewer as if surprised by our presence. Moving outside the miniature we note that the leaf features a particularly exuberant border with tangles of flowers fruit acanthus leaves and several birds including an owl in one corner. There is additional interest on the verso with another bright border painted an intense pink and filled with more flowers and owls. unknown books
Best.-Nr. 112941India probably Bundi circa 1780 AD. . Single leaf illuminated manuscript on paper in Sanskrit with illuminated miniature in the text lightly rubbed overall bright and attractive unexamined out of frame 205 x 115 mm; mounted and framed Germany gallery label to verso. An attractive manuscript leaf from a dispersed eighteenth-century manuscript of the Gita containing the heading for the seventh chapter of the text reading 'Gyan-Vigyan Yoga Namm Seventh Chapter'. The miniature set on a beautiful outdoor terrace next to a running stream shows a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjun. India, probably Bundi, circa 1780 AD. unknown
1520Best.-Nr. 82NHM8O8K9DUFlanders Bruges or Nürnberg 1520. Miniature painted on vellum 7.8 x 5.6 cm in numerous colours highlighted with gold and in a gold border probably from a book of hours but with no text. A finely rendered miniature showing great detail in bright colours highlighted with gold depicting the Arrest of Christ most likely from a diminutive book of hours. Surrounded by a bustling throng of Roman soldiers carrying spears and wearing halberds Christ appears calm just at the moment when a soldier takes him captive. An elder of the Jewish Temple stands directly behind him dressed in red. To the right stands Simon Peter sword raised having cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant Malchus who sits nursing his bleeding ear in the lower left corner of the composition. An earlier episode Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when he learns that one of his disciples will betray him appears in the background at left. A genre scene with men working the fields and crossing a river on a narrow plank bridge occupies the middle ground to the left of the main scene and the towers of a castle or city the middle ground to the right.The general style recalls the art of the last generation of Ghent-Bruges painters especially that of the famed Simon Bening. Though the anonymous artist owes much of his style to Bening's model he was most likely German. The acidic palette bright yellow juxtaposed with blue and lime green and the facial types remarkably expressive even at this tiny scale recall Nürnberg painters in the circle of Glockendon. It is worth remembering that Bening himself collaborated with several Nürnberg painters whose presence in Flanders is thus confirmed.With some fine superficial cracks and an occasional tiny abrasion mostly near the edges but generally in good condition. A lovely miniature of Christ's arrest rendered in remarkably fine detail.l For the general style: U. Merkl Buchmalerei in Bayern in der ersten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhunderts 1999. ART ARCHITECTURE & PHOTOGRAPHY AUTOGRAPHS DOCUMENTS & MANUSCRIPTS DRAWINGS PRINTS & WATERCOLOURS EARLY PRINTING & MANUSCRIPTS RELIGION & DEVOTION Book of Hours Missals & Prayerbooks Manuscripts & Documents Religion 16th Century hardcover
1824Seconda edizione. Testo Italiano e Latino. Roma, 1824; ril. in tela, pp. 48, 62 tavv. b/n, cm 40x53. italiano A ril.
Best.-Nr. ST17060VFrance probably Besançon 3rd quarter of 15th century. 239 x 165 mm. 9 3/8 x 6 1/2". Single column 15 lines in an elegant gothic book hand. Rubrics in dark pink line-enders in dark pink and blue with a gilt bezant several one-line initials in burnished gold on dark pink and blue ground with white tracery one three-line initial in blue with white tracery filled with flowers painted pink or blue all on a gold ground verso with panel border of delicate hairline vines terminating in gilt bezants and ivy and with a spray of blue flowers and a red bud recto with A FULLY-REALIZED HALF-PAGE MINIATURE OF A BURIAL in an arch-topped gilt frame with two laymen lowering a shrouded corpse into the ground a small group of hooded monks to the left and two ecclesiastical figures reading from a book to the right all in front of a gothic church painted pink with a blue roof SURROUNDED BY A FULL BORDER consisting of hairline vines terminating in gold bezants and ivy colorful acanthus strawberries and blue flowers the text below the miniature further framed with a thin "U"-shaped line extending the full height of the miniature. A very few trivial imperfections quite minor wear to paint on clothing a little insignificant smudging one small light stain in the blank margin of verso but these defects not the least distracting and overall the miniature in fine condition with rich well-preserved color. This is a splendid miniature from a particularly large Book of Hours showing a detailed rendering of a scene from contemporary Medieval life--that of a burial in a churchyard involving clergy mourners and laymen. Apart from those relatively few copies with illustrated calendars the miniatures found in Books of Hours are almost entirely devoted to retrospective Bible scenes that are obviously outside the experience of the illuminator; it is only in the present kind of scene at the beginning of the Office of the Dead that we can see a contemporaneous image that would have come directly from the Medieval experience. While our painting is fairly typical in subject matter and design it offers a number of interesting details about the Medieval rites and rituals surrounding death. The present scene represents the final stage preceded by the funeral procession Requiem Mass prayers Absolution and the procession into the graveyard in which the body is actually laid to rest in the ground. Though the corpse would have been encased in a coffin during the aforementioned rites and processions it was customary to bury the dead in only a shroud in the present example the artist has even thought to show the stitching along the length of the shroud. Three groups of people each serving a different function appear in this miniature: in the foreground are two laborers lowering the body into an earthen grave a small group of mourners in black cloaks stand off to the left and a duo of clergy members stand to the right. The latter have tonsured heads and each wears a black cope donned prior to administering Absolution to the deceased; together they hold a manuscript containing the Rites for Burial. The background is composed of a grand church or cathedral containing a number of fine architectural details including several windows including a clerestory level an arched entrance a dome and decorative touches. Stylistically this leaf can be localized to the Franche-Comté region in eastern France and is closely related if not directly attributable to an atelier specializing in Books of Hours made for the Use of Besançon and most likely situated in that city see Avril and Reynaud p. 197. The similarities are especially apparent in the figures' faces which are slightly puffy in appearance and have distinct slit-like eyes. As noted by Avril and Reynaud the unnamed master of this atelier was deeply indebted to the Master of Morgan 293 a talented Burgundian illuminator active in the second quarter of the 15th century whose name derives from a particularly lovely Book of Hours made for the Use of Besançon. Whoever the artist responsible for the present miniature this work is an excellent representation of a distinct regional style extremely attractive and replete with interesting details that connect us to the Medieval experience. unknown
Best.-Nr. ST17060VFrance probably Besançon 3rd quarter of 15th century. 239 x 165 mm. 9 3/8 x 6 1/2". Single column 15 lines in an elegant gothic book hand. Rubrics in dark pink line-enders in dark pink and blue with a gilt bezant several one-line initials in burnished gold on dark pink and blue ground with white tracery one three-line initial in blue with white tracery filled with flowers painted pink or blue all on a gold ground verso with panel border of delicate hairline vines terminating in gilt bezants and ivy and with a spray of blue flowers and a red bud recto with A FULLY-REALIZED HALF-PAGE MINIATURE OF A BURIAL in an arch-topped gilt frame with two laymen lowering a shrouded corpse into the ground a small group of hooded monks to the left and two ecclesiastical figures reading from a book to the right all in front of a gothic church painted pink with a blue roof SURROUNDED BY A FULL BORDER consisting of hairline vines terminating in gold bezants and ivy colorful acanthus strawberries and blue flowers the text below the miniature further framed with a thin "U"-shaped line extending the full height of the miniature. A very few trivial imperfections quite minor wear to paint on clothing a little insignificant smudging one small light stain in the blank margin of verso but these defects not the least distracting and overall the miniature in fine condition with rich well-preserved color. This is a splendid miniature from a particularly large Book of Hours showing a detailed rendering of a scene from contemporary Medieval life--that of a burial in a churchyard involving clergy mourners and laymen. Apart from those relatively few copies with illustrated calendars the miniatures found in Books of Hours are almost entirely devoted to retrospective Bible scenes that are obviously outside the experience of the illuminator; it is only in the present kind of scene at the beginning of the Office of the Dead that we can see a contemporaneous image that would have come directly from the Medieval experience. While our painting is fairly typical in subject matter and design it offers a number of interesting details about the Medieval rites and rituals surrounding death. The present scene represents the final stage preceded by the funeral procession Requiem Mass prayers Absolution and the procession into the graveyard in which the body is actually laid to rest in the ground. Though the corpse would have been encased in a coffin during the aforementioned rites and processions it was customary to bury the dead in only a shroud in the present example the artist has even thought to show the stitching along the length of the shroud. Three groups of people each serving a different function appear in this miniature: in the foreground are two laborers lowering the body into an earthen grave a small group of mourners in black cloaks stand off to the left and a duo of clergy members stand to the right. The latter have tonsured heads and each wears a black cope donned prior to administering Absolution to the deceased; together they hold a manuscript containing the Rites for Burial. The background is composed of a grand church or cathedral containing a number of fine architectural details including several windows including a clerestory level an arched entrance a dome and decorative touches. Stylistically this leaf can be localized to the Franche-Comté region in eastern France and is closely related if not directly attributable to an atelier specializing in Books of Hours made for the Use of Besançon and most likely situated in that city see Avril and Reynaud p. 197. The similarities are especially apparent in the figures' faces which are slightly puffy in appearance and have distinct slit-like eyes. As noted by Avril and Reynaud the unnamed master of this atelier was deeply indebted to the Master of Morgan 293 a talented Burgundian illuminator active in the second quarter of the 15th century whose name derives from a particularly lovely Book of Hours made for the Use of Besançon. Whoever the artist responsible for the present miniature this work is an excellent representation of a distinct regional style extremely attractive and replete with interesting details that connect us to the Medieval experience. unknown books
