Case 17
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5.
This manuscript is formed of three distinct components, of which the core is a Book of Hours made in the southern Netherlands, perhaps Bruges, around 1470 for the English market. Known as the Fitzherbert Hours, it was owned by Margery Fitzherbert, whose name is incorporated six times in prayers on three leaves. The Fitzherberts were a prominent legal family from Derbyshire.
This manuscript is an interesting example of the personal nature of these prayer books: it is open at the Introit for the Mass of the Holy Name, with a small miniature featuring the patrons, Margery Fitzherbert and her husband, at prayer. The book sustained water-damaged sometime during the eighteenth century.
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5.
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Book of Hours, in Latin and French. Northern France (perhaps Rouen), late fifteenth century. Reed MS8.
This French Book of Hours, dating from ca. 1480-1500, is richly decorated. It contains more than fifty miniature paintings and every page is filled with borders of geometric designs containing flowers, vines, fruit and the occasional fantastical creature, figure, animal or insect.
The opening section contains twenty-four small rectangular miniatures in the vertical borders of the calendar pages, which include signs of the zodiac and the labours of each month. The manuscript is open at the final page of the Calendar (December) on the left, and the Four Evangelists and opening of the Gospel Readings on the right.
Book of Hours, in Latin and French. Northern France (perhaps Rouen), late fifteenth century. Reed MS8.
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Book of Hours, in Latin with additions in Middle English. Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), ca. 1440. Reed MS10.
Written and illuminated for the English market, the miniatures of this manuscript reflect Flemish models disseminated by the so-called Master of the Golden Scrolls.
Known as the Mantell Hours, this was one of the first medieval manuscripts to come to New Zealand. It was owned by the palaeontologist Gideon Mantell (1790-1853) and bequeathed to his son, the naturalist Walter Mantell (1820-1895), who brought the manuscript with him when he emigrated to New Zealand in 1840.
The manuscript is open at the final page of the Calendar and the opening to the Hours of the Virgin.
Book of Hours, in Latin with additions in Middle English. Southern Netherlands (probably Bruges), ca. 1440. Reed MS10.
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