Leaf from a large Psalter with elegantly looping initials, in Latin

Leaf from a large Psalter with elegantly looping initials, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Flanders, early thirteenth century (probably before c. 1230)], single leaf, with text in single column of 23 lines of a fine early gothic bookhand (with parts of Psalm 118 and 119), written below topline, line-fillers in red and blue interlocking chain-like penstokes, one-line initials in gold lined in black ink with long curling penstrokes, three large initials in long looping gold strokes (that on recto a large ‘I’ measuring the full page in height and filling the outer and lower margins), on blue and dark pink grounds overlaid with white brushwork, Early Modern page numbers ‘243/244’, large section of blank outer border fallen away and replaced with modern vellum, some discolouration, small spots and traces of paper and cloth strips from previous mounting, 250 x 170mm.; in card mount *** The parent manuscript of this leaf may have been the Psalter sold several times in Christie’s from 18 March 1912, lot 130, to 11-12 April 1938, lot 304. After that it appears to have passed to either Otto Ege or his associate Philip Duschnes (or both), and was listed by Scott Gwara in his Otto Ege’s Manuscripts (2013), as Handlist no. 125, where other leaves in three American institutions are recorded. It was also discussed by Barbara A Shailor, ‘Otto Ege: Portfolios vs. Leaves’, Manuscripta, 53 (2009), pp. 13-27 (see col. pl. 2a–b).

Estimate:£700

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