[MANUSCRIPT]. [BOOK OF HOURS] - Lot 28

[MANUSCRIPT]. [BOOK OF HOURS] Two fragments of a Book of Hours for the use of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). In French and Latin, illuminated manuscripts on parchment. Southern Netherlands, most likely Bruges, circa 1510–1530. Two independently bound volumes. - Volume 1: Complete Office of the Virgin [Matins to Compline], 46 ff., preceded and followed by two paper endpapers [collation volume 1: i-v8 vi6 ]. Rigid full vellum binding, smooth spine decorated with fleurons and gilt fillets, triple gilt fillet borders on the covers, gilt fleurons at the four corners. Pale red rubric confirming the unusual usage: The Hours of Our Lady according to the usage of the Preaching Friars. - Volume 2: Various prayers, including the Prayers of Saint Gregory and the Prayers of Saint Thomas, 14 ff., preceded and followed by two paper endpapers [collation: i1 (last leaf of a quire), ii1 (last leaf of a quire), iii1 (last leaf of a quire), iv8, v4 (of a quire of 4)]. Rubric in pale red on fol. 6v: Prayer to all the saints of the Order of Preachers. Elements common to both volumes: text copied in a single column, mixed script in brown ink, 18 lines per page, red ink ruling (dimensions: 100x68mm), headings in pale red ink, 1-line initials, liquid gold on dark red and blue backgrounds, line ends with liquid gold ornamentation on green, brown, or blue and red backgrounds, larger initials in gray and white on liquid gold backgrounds, 8 large initials (5 lines high) in gray and white on green or pink backgrounds with floral motifs, a bird, a fly, strawberries, 2 trompe l’œil illuminated borders, with birds, butterflies, pea flowers, carnations, pansies, lilies, strawberries, and acanthus leaves on gold backgrounds. Some minor paint chipping, not serious; a tear in the parchment on fol. 2 of volume 2; a few stains in the margins of ff. 11v–12, 27v–28 of vol. 1 and f. 2v of vol. 2; otherwise in good overall condition. Hard full vellum bindings, smooth spines decorated with fleurons and gold fillets, triple gold fillet borders on the covers, gold fleurons at the four corners, endpapers and flyleaves of marbled paper. A few stains on the covers but generally in good condition. Dimensions of the bindings: 175x120mm; dimensions of the leaves: 170x110mm This manuscript was produced for the unusual liturgical use of the Preaching Friars (Dominicans) and for a French-speaking patron (as evidenced by the rubrics in French). The Dominican use is confirmed by rubrics indicating: The Hours of Our Lady according to the usage of the Preaching Friars (vol. 1, fol. 1), and among the prayers in vol. 2 is the Dominican prayer: “Christi pia gratia sanctos sublimavit quos patris dominici...” (ff. 6v-7) and several prayers attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas (ff. 9-14). SEE THE COMPLETE ENTRY IN THE PDF CATALOG (downloadable)