Photo Credit: LEAVES-OF-OLD
Illuminated Book of Hours Leaf from Rouen, Circa 1470
Buy It Now Price: $499 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This vibrant French illuminated Book of Hours leaf was sumptuously hand-scribed in the medieval city of Rouen sometime between the years 1470 and 1490 AD.
-This medieval manuscript leaf measures 178 mm (7 inches) tall by 125 mm (4.9 inches) wide. This is a good size for an illuminated Book of Hours leaf, which tended to be fairly small compared to modern books.
-A Book of Hours was a medieval prayer book intended for personal worship at home. Only the very wealthiest families could afford to commission a Book of Hours, which – like all medieval manuscripts – were completely handmade. It could take a specialized monastery or manuscript factory more than a year of exacting work to complete a single copy.
-Rouen is a city in the Normandy region of France, situated on the lower reaches of the Seine River. It was one of the most important cities of medieval France, with a population of about 40,000 inhabitants in the late 15th century.
-This illuminated Book of Hours leaf is richly decorated with red, blue, green and gold pigments, and includes an elaborate floral border on both the verso and recto. It is an incredibly fine example of late medieval art, yet remains within financial reach for the average person.
-In the late 15th century, France was still a patchwork of feudal duchies and counties. However, the end of the Hundred Years’ War in 1453 saw the English definitively expelled from all French territory (except for Calais), laying the groundwork for the modern French State.
-The text of this illuminated Book of Hours leaf is written in Latin, which was the lingua franca of medieval Europe.
–Medieval illuminated manuscripts are one of today’s most underappreciated alternative investments. They are quintessential examples of medieval European art, complete with vivid colors, Gothic script and hand-drawn illuminations. But fine specimens can still be purchased for only a few hundred dollars each – a mind-blowingly low price in a world filled with $10 cappuccinos and $100 a month gym memberships.
-I believe the buy-it-now price of $499 is quite reasonable for an illuminated Book of Hours leaf of this caliber, especially considering the stunning aesthetics of the piece. It would look great mounted on the wall in your study, bedroom or living room.
Cons:
-Expect to pay an extra $100 to $200 to have this medieval masterpiece properly framed with acid-free, archival-quality matting and UV-resistant glass. However, I consider this is a small price to pay to protect such a wonderful manuscript in perpetuity.
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