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an open book with a picture of a man on ittwo old books sitting next to each other on a tablean old book sitting on top of a white table next to a white wallan old book with a red cover sitting on top of a white tablean old book with a picture of a man and a woman on itan old book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with a page of writing on itan old book with writing on it on a tablean old book with writing on it sitting on a tablean old open book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablea book open on a table with a page in the middle of itan old book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with a pencil on top of it next to a piece of paper
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Description
BOOK OF HOURS] Book of Hours for use in Rome; workshop in central France, last third of the 14th century. A volume in-16 (height: 12.2 cm) bound in brown calfskin, ribbed spine decorated with fleurons and stylised silver thistles, framed by a triple blind-stamped border on the covers, silver fleurons at the corners, and a large silver fleurons bearing the emblems of the Passion (‘Arma Christi’) in the centre. A Parisian binding from the late 16th century; presented in a conservation slipcase of fawn calfskin, the covers framed by a double blind-stamped border, with a large label on the upper cover in long-grained red morocco bearing an inscription in gilt letters (slipcase from the second half of the 19th century). The body of the manuscript is preceded and followed by 7 white paper endpapers. (127) ff. (out of 128). Margins: 11.5 x 8.9 cm. Unpaginated and unsigned. Contains headpieces (added when the binding was made). Collation by quires: a 12 b-f 8 g 9 h 4 i-p 8. Leaf b 1 is missing (as is p 8, which was likely blank). Contents: Leaves [1] to [12]: Liturgical calendar (for the diocese of Puys-en-Velais). Of note are the feasts of Saint Enimie (6 October), Saint Géraud (13 October), and Saint Théofrède (or Saint Chaffre) on 19 November. Leaf [13] is missing (beginning of the Office of the Virgin). Leaves [14] to [72] (h4): Office of the Virgin. [Note: leaf h1 is mounted on a tab]. Folio [73]: blank. Folios [74]r° to [82]v°: Seven Penitential Psalms. Folios [83]r° to [89]v°: Litany of the Saints Leaves [90]r° to [120]r°: Office of the Dead Leaves [121]r° to [128]r°: Suffrages and prayers. Followed by an added blank parchment leaf. Manuscript on vellum, in Gothic script, ruled in graphite, initials in blue and red with filigree bodies and tailed stems in the margins drawn in pen, some of which are very long and thread-like, adorned with small stylised flowers; two larger initials in purple and blue with descending tendrils featuring a motif of half-fleurs-de-lis in green, purple, blue and red. 15th-century handwritten annotations in the margins and long handwritten inscriptions by the same scribe (various prayers) on blank spaces left in the original manuscript. At the beginning of certain prayers in the original manuscript, the annotator has transcribed musical staves (plainchant notations) in the margin. Provenance: An inscription in gold lettering on the upper cover of the case reads: ‘14th-century Book of Hours found at Usson, formerly part of Queen Marguerite’s library. It bears the marks of Henry III’s bookbinder’. We shall see later that this attribution is, to say the least, speculative… A handwritten note (from the 19th century) on a sheet of paper pasted onto one of the blank leaves at the end of the volume transcribes the handwritten ex-libris left by one of the volume’s former owners. According to this note, the bookplate is said to date from the 15th century. ‘Dominus Jhoannes Marrone, monacus nepotz magistri Claudii Allisii, notarii’ (Sir Jehan Marrone, monk, nephew of Master Claude Allisier, notary). This handwritten bookplate, which is indeed from the 15th century, can be found at the top of folio [125]. This bookplate appears in different forms at least twice in the volume (the first time at the top of the January page of the liturgical calendar, though this inscription is partly erased). Another handwritten note provides an extract (in Latin) from the *Gallia Christiana* (Volume II, p. 761) concerning the monastery of St Chaffre (‘The monastery of Monastier-Saint-Chaffre, commonly known as Le Monestier, Calmeliacum or the distinguished and ancient monastery of Saint Théofred of the Order of Saint Benedict, is situated on the banks of the Gazeille, a river which flows into the Loire near the village commonly known as Colempce, one league from that famous abbey. It lies at the foot of Mount Mézenc, from which the River Loire rises, and is three leagues from the town of Le Puy-en-Velay. It was founded in honour of the Prince of the Apostles by Calminius, Duke of Auvergne, and is known by various names: ‘Calminium, Calmelium, Calminiacum, Calmeliacense monasterium’). This note is signed by Michel Cohendy (1811–1889), archivist of the Puy-de- Dôme, author notably of the *Inventory of all charters prior to the 13th century, preserved in the Puy-de-Dôme* (1855) and of the *Letters, most of them autograph and unpublished, of Queen Marguerite de Valois* (Clermont-Ferrand, 1881). As regards the attribution of this volume to Marguerite de Valois, neither an examination of the old marks of ownership nor an examination of the binding confirms the hypothesis that it belonged to Marguerite de Valois, who was confined to Usson Castle from 1586 to 1605 on the orders of her brother, King Henry III, to prevent her from undermining royal authority: ‘Queen Margot’ had in fact joined the League and taken the town of Agen by force of arms, which Henry III had regarded as a crime of lèse-majesté and high treason. The new binding, featuring the ‘Arma Christi’ emblems—undoubtedly produced in a major Parisian workshop during the princess’s period of captivity—nevertheless suggests a connection to the royal entourage. The absence of royal symbols (fleurs-de-lis, monograms or mottos), and the use of silvering rather than gilding, suggest instead a devout figure, holding official office, who humbly placed herself under royal authority. On the other hand, it is a fact that this volume has come down to us through direct inheritance within the de Matharel family. At the time the binding was made, Antoine de Matharel was Captain-Châtelain of Usson, and his wife, Madelaine Poisson, had been a lady-in-waiting to Marguerite de Valois since the latter’s arrival in Usson. The queen’s esteem for Antoine de Matharel is attested to, notably by a letter addressed to Henry IV in 1605 in which the queen, upon leaving the castle, entrusted its care to Antoine de Matharel, whom she described as a man of her confidence. The book of hours, which had previously belonged (in the 15th century) to a certain Jean Marrone (at the top of the second page for October in the liturgical calendar, it can be read that this Jehan Marrone was a monk of St Chaffre (the reference is fragmentary as it is partly erased, but the word ‘Theofred’ is clearly discernible)), a monk at the Abbey of St Chaffre in the Haute-Loire, must have remained within the abbey until its sacking in July 1574 by a band of Protestants led by the famous Captain Merle. We know that the spoils of this plunder were quickly dispersed and sold in the surrounding area in the days following the siege. It would therefore come as no surprise if it had been acquired by Antoine de Matharel in the years that followed and if he had had it rebound in a new cover more to his taste whilst Marguerite de Valois was held captive at Usson Castle. Although it is unlikely that this volume formed part of the library that Marguerite de Valois had assembled at Usson Castle – from which she is said to have given a few items to her loyal servants upon leaving the stronghold – this volume was, in all likelihood, owned by one of her close associates, namely Antoine de Matharel. Some soiling and a few rubbed passages; a worm-eaten edge on the first endpapers. Expert consulted: Jean-Marc Dechaud, CNES expert Consultant: Charlotte Bidaut-Tijani
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About the sale ANTIQUE AND MODERN BOOKS
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Auction time 09/12/2026 at 2:15 PM
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