Eleze McKenzie collection of medieval manuscript leaves, circa 1150-1840
Collection Number: 6931
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Eleze McKenzie collection of medieval manuscript leaves, circa 1150-1840
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
6931
Abstract:
Medieval manuscript leaves collected by Eleze McKenzie.
Creator:
McKenzie, Eleze
Quanitities:
1.5 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in Latin, Arabic, and Hindi or Bengali.
Medieval manuscript leaves collected by Eleze McKenzie. Items are from England, France,
Germany, India, Italy, the Low Countries, and Turkey.
Also, photographs of McKenzie and her husband and photographs of the manuscripts
on display in her home.
See also the Medieval manuscript fragments collection, #6532, http://resolver.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/EADresolver?id=RMM06532
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Eleze McKenzie collection of medieval manuscript leaves, #6931. Division of Rare and
Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Form and Genre Terms:
Parchment (animal material)
Illuminated manuscripts.
Vellum (parchment)
Gothic scripts
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Box 2 |
Original manuscript leaf from the Qur'an
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1122 | |
Scope and Contents
Description: Written on both sides of an original leaf of pure vellum with many unusual decorations
of a floral design on each page illuminated and heightened in gold on page intialed
in red on the opening initial. The bottom margin has been repaired and remargined
with 18th century paper. double quarto Cairo 1122. guaranteed to be genuine.
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Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Leaves from a Book of Hours
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1450 |
Scope and Contents
Size: three leaves: one 155x112mm, two 105x72mmDescription: France.Dealer description: For the two smaller: "written in Latin on vellum in an attractive gothic hand in
brown ink. Each leaf with a number of decorated initials, some two-line in gold and
colours, some one-line in gold or blue with contrasting penwork. Linefillers in gold
and colours. Rubrics in red. Each leaf is written and illuminated on both sides, 15
text linesper side. France, c.1450." For the one larger: "Written in Latin on vellum
in a firm gothic hand in black ink. Each leaf with a number of decorated initials,
one-line in gold or blue, two-line in gold, red & blue. Rubrics in red. Each leaf
is written and illuminated on both sides, 17 text lines per side. France, c. 1450."
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Box 1 | Folder 2 |
MS Leaf
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1408 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 7.25" x 5.25"Description: Horae, Atelier de Boucicault. France.Dealer description: Leaf from "the Chester Beatty Hours". Paris, 1408. Border on three sides. One leaf
on vellum from a Book of Hours written and illuminated in Paris in the year 1408.
Has elaborate ivy-leaf borders in gold and colour, plus several initials and decorative
line endings.
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Box 1 | Folder 3 |
South German Artist
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1490 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 185mm x 250mmDescription: Illuminated miniature of the Presentation in the Temple, on a bifolium from a Processional.
Southwestern Germany.Dealer description: Large historiated initial "L" (75x54mm.) with miniature showing the Virgin on the
right passing the Holy Child to a priest wearing a red hooded cloak, with a gothic
altar. The initial painted in gold, and set within a coloured frame. Square musical
notation on five red 4-line staves, with interlinear text in a gothic hand. A fine
illuminated leaf from a manuscript processional which carried the date 1489 (originally
in lot 35 in Hartung & Karl's sale, 18 June 1980). It must have been written for a
nunnery since the rubrics there referred to "sengerin" and "schuester". The initial
introduces the text for the procession for Candelmas on 2 Februrary: "Lumen ad revelationem..."
In excellent condition.
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Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Heures a L'Usage de Paris
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1400 |
Scope and Contents
Description: Contains two miniature paintings 1 1/4" in diameter: one of the Virgin Mary with
her mother, Saint Ann; the other of Saint Mary Magdalene. France.Dealer description: Leaf from a Book of Hours. Paris, late 15th century. Possibly from a printed Book
of Hours.
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Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Biblia Sacra Latina
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13th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 11" x 8"Description: Manuscript, French (Paris) 13th century. Biblia Sacra Latina. Chapter numerals in
red and blue with much penwork ornamentation. The work contained a number of historiated
and illuminated initials. Remarkable for the extremely wide margins.Dealer description: Leaf from Latin Bible, with historiated initial of Samuel annoting David. 47 lines,
double columns.
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Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Biblia Sacra Latina
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13th century? |
Scope and Contents
Size: 11.5" x 8"Description: Manuscript, French (Paris) 13th century. Biblia Sacra Latina. Initial showing a scene
of baptism.Dealer description: Leaf from Latin Bible. Paris, 13th century. 47 lines, double columns.
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Mapcase Folder 1 |
Leaf from choirbook
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1520 | |
Scope and Contents
Size: 20.5" x 14.75"Description: Vellum leaf from a large choir book. Seven lines each of music in square neumes in
black ink on red four-line staves and seven lines of text in large gothic script.
Rheinland.Dealer description: German (Rhenish) Illuminator: c. 1520. Vellum leaf from a large Choir Book. With
ornamental intial D containing the head of a bearded man and with a dragon on the
outside; and initial E with a man's profile on the outside.
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Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Flemish Leaf
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1400s |
Scope and Contents
Size: 6.25" x 5"Description: Flanders.Dealer description: Leaf from Breviary or Missal: Flanders. c. 1450. 30 lines, double columns.
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Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Dutch illuminator
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15th century (middle) |
Scope and Contents
Size: 156mm x 110mmDescription: Illuminated leaf on vellum from a Book of Hours in Dutch c. 1450. Netherlands.Dealer description: Handsome three-line initial "H" in highly burnished gold on a pink and blue ground
with white tracery, bar border in pink, gold and blue, marginal sprays of penwork
stems terminating in burnished gold bezants and trefoils; on the verso a similar initial
and border. One-line initials in red and blue. 19 lines of text in a gothic hand.
In pristine condition.
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Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Hours of the Virgin
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 6.75" x 5.25"Description: Use of Sarum in Latin. France.Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. France, 15th century (second quarter). 23 lines
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Box 1 | Folder 10 |
French illuminator
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15th century (3rd quarter) |
Scope and Contents
Size: 180mm x 125mmDescription: Illuminated MS Leaf on vellum from a Book of Hours. [Paris or Tours?], France, c.
1470.Dealer description: On verso fine panel border of flowers and folliage in gold and colours incorporating
a bird in brown and pink; on recto another panel border with three sections of thistles,
berries and flowers on a gold ground with foliage filling out the remaining areas.
One of the 2-line and twelve 1-line initials in gold on a ground of blue and red with
white tracery, lines infulled with same colours. 18 lines of text in a gothic hand.
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Box 1 | Folder 11 |
French Book of Hours
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 6.25" x 5.25"Description: Original French Manuscript. Probably Diocese of Paris, France.Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. France, c. 1450. 13 lines.
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Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Horae leaf: Use of Sarum
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1475 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 7.5" x 5.25"Description: Double leaf. Use of SarumDealer description: Double-leaf from Book of Hours (use of Sarum). C. 1475. 23 lines.
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Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Illuminated miniature of the Nativity
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1480-1490 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 203mm x 247mmDescription: Rouen artist. Illuminated miniature of the Nativity. France.Dealer description: Large rectangular miniature of the Navtivity (117x73mm), showing Mary and Joseph
raising their hands and looking down at the Holy Child who lies on the Virgin's cloak,
the scene set in an open stable which is partially covered by a red and gold tapestry
screen; four shepherds peer in over the fence, landscape background. Decorative border
on three sides composed of silver and green acanthus, coloured flowers, daisies and
a large bird and a grotesque animal. Ornamental intials and line-fillers. 23 lines
of text in lettre batarde. A charming and colourful nativity scene from a Rouen Book
of Hours of good quality, with a fascinating border. In excellent condition.
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Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Bruges artist
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1470 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 227mm x 153mmDescription: Illuminated miniature of the Betrayal of Christ. Bruges, Flanders.Dealer description: Historiated initial showing Christ being betrayed by Judas in front of a crowd of
soldiers, in the foreground Malchus is having his ear cut off by Peter. The initial
painted in blue with white tracery in a gold frame. Border on three sides composed
of blue and green acanthus, flowers and fruit and other coloured flowers and leaves,
the text contained within a gold and pink border on three sides. 17 lines of gothic
text (text area: 146x95mm). Superb illumination from a Book of Hours almost certainly
produced in Bruges in the workshop of William Vrelant, probably the most influential
artist in Bruges in the second half of the 15th century. It is probably from one of
the many manuscripts produced in Bruges for the English market. Another leaf from
this manuscript contained a miniature of the commendation of souls, a scene rarely
depicted in continental Books of Hours, but much more common in English Books of Hours,
or those produced for the English market. The historiated intial introduces lauds.
This is from a manuscript of considerable dimensions written in a large liturgical
script obviously commissioned by a patron of high rank.
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Box 2 |
Arabic Calligrapher
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15th-16th century? | |
Scope and Contents
Description: Manuscript leaf from a Qur'an; written in naskh script.
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Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Hours of the Virgin
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 5.5" x 4.5"Description: Use of Sarum in Latin. England.Dealer description: Double leaf from Book of Hours (use of Sarum) England, c. 1450.
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Box 1 | Folder 16 |
French illuminator
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1430-1450 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 202mm x 146mmDescription: Illuminated leaf from a Book of Hours. Northwestern France.Dealer description: On each side of the leaf a wide ornamental border composed of gold oak leaves and
pink and blue flowers on hair-line stems which radiate from a bar border of pink and
burnished gold. 3 two-line initials in pink and blue on burnished gold grounds and
5 one-line initials on pink and blue grounds, two line-fillers. 15 lines of Gothic
text in brown ink. A very attractive leaf with the text completely surrounded by the
border decoration on the recto and with a three-sided border on the verso. In excellent
condition.
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Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Italian illuminator
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1450 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 280mm x 195mmDescription: Illuminated bifolium from a Book of Hours. Northeastern Italy, c. 1450.Dealer description: Beautiful 6-line illuminated initial 'S' painted on a burnished gold ground in pink,
green and orange acanthus, with full length marginal extension of lush blue, pink
and orange acanthus on a gold ground, gold bezants and a long-legged bird drawn in
two colours in lower margin; red and blue initials. 18 lines of text in a rounded
gothic hand. A beautifully illuminated bifolium from a Book of Hours of high quality,
remarkable for the lush foliage decoration. Probably from N.E. Italy (perhaps Ferrara).
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Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Leaf from Book of Hours
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1452 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 5.5" x 4"Description: Flemish.Dealer description: Handwritten provenance history: "310 pages. 6 illuminated (1 w/miniatures). Floriated
borders, Burnished gold paint. Lapis Lazure Blue paint. From the Duc de Lilchtenstein's
Library. 1800's - sold at auction to an Austrian library (state operated) 1800's -
sold to a p'vt collector (European) 1900's (incomplete) - sold to an Antique Bookdealer
1964 (incomplete) - sold to an American collector 1965 (incomplete) - sold to an American
collector" Leaf from Flemish Book of Hours. c. 1450. With 10-line illuminated capital.
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Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Hours of the Virgin
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 5.75" x 4.25"Description: Calendar page. Miniature painting, Northern France; illuminated manuscript.Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. N. France, c. 1480-1500. 15 lines.
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Box 2 |
Indian miniature
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19th century | |
Scope and Contents
Description: Script: Sanskrit, from the Bhagurad Gita.Dealer description: Krishna with his two loves: cows and women.
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Box 2 |
Turkish manuscript
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Scope and Contents
Description: Turkish Qur'an.
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Box 1 | Folder 20 |
Manuscript Brevary in Latin (of St. Victor)
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 6.75" x 4.75"Description: Breviary. Flemish. MS in Latin of St. Victor.Dealer description: Leaf from Flemish Breviary c. 1450-70. 18 lines.
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Box 1 | Folder 21 |
Hours of the Virgin
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 6.25" x 4.5"Description: Use of Sarum in Latin. MS leaf. France.Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. France, c. 1460. 13 lines.
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Box 1 | Folder 22 |
Minuscule Bible leaf
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1150? |
Scope and Contents
Description: Britain, in Latin, uterine vellum.Dealer description: Leaf from Latin Bible. England, 13th century. 47 lines, double columns (Ecclesiastes).
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Box 1 | Folder 23 |
Horae. Calendar Leaf.
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Description: France. Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. France. c. 1470.
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Box 2 |
Turkish manuscript
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1820-1840 | |
Scope and Contents
Description: Turkish Qur'an.
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Box 1 | Folder 24 |
Illuminated leaf from a Psalter
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1300 |
Scope and Contents
Description: Flanders, France.
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Box 1 | Folder 25 |
MS Leaf in Dutch
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15th century |
Scope and Contents
Size: 4.5" x 3.25" Description: Netherlands.Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours in Dutch c. 1450. 16 lines.
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Box 1 | Folder 26 |
Flemish Illuminator
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1240 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 128mm x 90mmDescription: Low Countries. Illuminted leaf from a Psalter. Flanders.Dealer description: Thick blue and mauve border with 6 initials in burnished gold, red and blue line-filler
(on both recto and verson). 19 lines of early gothic script in black ink. Very attractive
leaf from a pocket-sized psalter.
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Box 1 | Folder 27 |
Manuscript leaf
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1400 |
Scope and Contents
Size: 4.25" x 3.75" Description: France.Dealer description: Calendar leaf from Book of Hours. France, c. 1460. 17 lines.
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Manuscript Box 72 |
Photographs
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1940s-1960s | |
Scope and Contents
Description: McKenzie, her husband, and the manuscripts on display in her home.
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