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.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

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.

RELATED MATERIALS

See also the Medieval manuscript fragments collection, #6532, http://resolver.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/EADresolver?id=RMM06532

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Eleze McKenzie collection of medieval manuscript leaves, #6931. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Form and Genre Terms:
Parchment (animal material)
Illuminated manuscripts.
Vellum (parchment)
Gothic scripts

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 2
Original manuscript leaf from the Qur'an
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.
Box 1 Folder 1
Leaves from a Book of Hours
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."
Box 1 Folder 2
MS Leaf
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.
Box 1 Folder 3
South German Artist
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.
Box 1 Folder 4
Heures a L'Usage de Paris
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.
Box 1 Folder 5
Biblia Sacra Latina
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.
Box 1 Folder 6
Biblia Sacra Latina
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.
Mapcase Folder 1
Leaf from choirbook
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.
Box 1 Folder 7
Flemish Leaf
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.
Box 1 Folder 8
Dutch illuminator
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.
Box 1 Folder 9
Hours of the Virgin
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
Box 1 Folder 10
French illuminator
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.
Box 1 Folder 11
French Book of Hours
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.
Box 1 Folder 12
Horae leaf: Use of Sarum
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.
Box 1 Folder 13
Illuminated miniature of the Nativity
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.
Box 1 Folder 14
Bruges artist
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.
Box 2
Arabic Calligrapher
15th-16th century?
Scope and Contents
Description: Manuscript leaf from a Qur'an; written in naskh script.
Box 1 Folder 15
Hours of the Virgin
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.
Box 1 Folder 16
French illuminator
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.
Box 1 Folder 17
Italian illuminator
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).
Box 1 Folder 18
Leaf from Book of Hours
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.
Box 1 Folder 19
Hours of the Virgin
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.
Box 2
Indian miniature
19th century
Scope and Contents
Description: Script: Sanskrit, from the Bhagurad Gita.Dealer description: Krishna with his two loves: cows and women.
Box 2
Turkish manuscript
Scope and Contents
Description: Turkish Qur'an.
Box 1 Folder 20
Manuscript Brevary in Latin (of St. Victor)
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.
Box 1 Folder 21
Hours of the Virgin
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.
Box 1 Folder 22
Minuscule Bible leaf
1150?
Scope and Contents
Description: Britain, in Latin, uterine vellum.Dealer description: Leaf from Latin Bible. England, 13th century. 47 lines, double columns (Ecclesiastes).
Box 1 Folder 23
Horae. Calendar Leaf.
15th century
Scope and Contents
Description: France. Dealer description: Leaf from Book of Hours. France. c. 1470.
Box 2
Turkish manuscript
1820-1840
Scope and Contents
Description: Turkish Qur'an.
Box 1 Folder 24
Illuminated leaf from a Psalter
1300
Scope and Contents
Description: Flanders, France.
Box 1 Folder 25
MS Leaf in Dutch
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.
Box 1 Folder 26
Flemish Illuminator
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.
Box 1 Folder 27
Manuscript leaf
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.
Manuscript Box 72
Photographs
1940s-1960s
Scope and Contents
Description: McKenzie, her husband, and the manuscripts on display in her home.