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Posts on medieval manuscripts
Posts on medieval manuscripts














In this manuscript, containing mostly liturgical texts, the illustrator has cut a hole as part of his illustration of the “star clock” (a means to tell time after dark), the invention of which is credited to Pacificus of Verona.

posts on medieval manuscripts

The stitching serves two purposes: to protect the book from further damage, and to add decoration to what might otherwise be seen as unsightly.Īnd finally, holes are occasionally created for the purpose of decoration: St. Others seem to just be from accidental damage: St. Some of these holes were apparently caused by damage from the bookmaking process: these horizontal slits that have been sewn up appear to have been caused by a monk who was ruling the page with too heavy a hand. Gallen-have holes and tears sewn up with colorful thread. Many manuscripts-it seems particularly common in Continental manuscripts, like this Swiss manuscript from the monastery of St. Not only were they often written around, but sometimes they were decorated: St. Holes were clearly viewed as part and parcel of the medieval bookmaking process. Holes can be caused by insects, fire damage, mold, or perhaps from damage done during the writing, illustration, or binding of a text. Some holes appear after the scribe’s work is done: St. (However, it should be noted that these holes are not found as often in very expensive manuscripts-we can probably assume that the scribe would select more pristine parchment for more important documents.) So, when a hole formed during the parchment-making process, the product couldn’t very well just be discarded. This is a labor-intensive and thus expensive process.

#POSTS ON MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS SKIN#

Parchment is made by taking animal skins, removing their hair, and creating a writing surface by stretching and scraping the skin repeatedly over time, until it is the thickness and texture desired. Some holes are there before the parchment or vellum (footnote: parchment is made from animal skin, typically sheep, cow, or goat vellum, the most prized variety, is made specifically from calf skin) is written on: Engelberg, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. They may be large or small, accidental or intentional, hidden away in the binding or displayed openly, but they’re there. But almost every medieval manuscript has some holes in it somewhere. While countless medieval manuscripts have been lost to time, a large number remain, and in a wide range of qualities.

posts on medieval manuscripts

It’s probably not terribly surprising to anyone that there are holes in medieval manuscripts-after all, a millennium-old piece of parchment should expect to see some wear and tear.














Posts on medieval manuscripts