File:Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford - with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings (1891) (14761090336).jpg

Identifier: historicbindings00bras (find matches)
Title: Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford : with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Brassington, William Salt, 1859-1939 Bodleian Library
Subjects: Bookbinding
Publisher: London : Sampson Low, Marston and Co.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ychs were used to adorn the bindings ofprecious manuscripts, and it is only with ivories devoted to thispurpose that we have now to deal. The Bodleian possesses threefamous ivories on book-covers, the earliest being that represented onthe opposite page. The history of the MS. in brief is as follows. Itcan be traced to the Abbey of St. Faron, near Meaux, in the Depart-ment of Seine and Marne. In 1833 it was bought at the sale ofM. Abel-Remusats library by Payne (a bookseller), who sold it toDouce for the sum of ^31 105. The volume was apparently rebound in red morocco some timeduring the 18th century, and an ivory carving of the 9th or iothcentury was mounted upon the obverse cover. It is evident thatthe ivory was intended for the decoration of a book-cover, and itis probable that the other leaf of the diptych (now lost) containedin the centre a representation of the Crucifixion, surrounded bytwelve scenes of the later events in our Lords history. The carvingis said to be Italian work.
Text Appearing After Image:
Plate I. EVANGELIARIUM. MS. ON VELLUM. X™ CENTURY. In red morocco, with ivory carving of the Carlovingian school, inserted. PLATE I. 3 Professor J. O. Westwood thus describes the subjects of thiscurious relic of early Christian art:— In the large central compartment is a very beautiful figure of the Saviour,of the youthful type, with long flowing hair, and a cruciferous nimbus, treadingdown the lion, serpent, dragon, and young lion. (Ps. xci. 13.) In His righthand He holds a cross over His shoulders, and in His left hand an open bookinscribed, IHS. XPS. SUP(er) ASP(idem). The drapery is rather fluttering.Around this chief figure are twelve small compartments surrounded by bordersornamented with classical mouldings and pilasters, and containing representationsof the earlier scenes of the Gospel history. I. The prophet Isaiah standing by a tree holding a scroll inscribed, ECCEVFRG(o) CONCl(piet) (Is. vii. 14), in Roman capitals, the C and Gbeing of the anmjlated form.II. The salutat

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