16th-17th Century Liturgical Antiphonal with Embossed Brass Mounts

Origin: The Central and Corner Bosses: The use of star-shaped, pierced, and hand-stamped brass bosses is characteristic of heavy choral books produced in Spain, Italy, and Southern Germany during the 1500s and 1600s.

Measures: 24" Tall

DESCRIPTION:

This stunning liturgical book is a spectacular example of late renaissance or baroque ecclesiastical bookbinding. Designed to be used in churches and monestaries for choral chants sung during Liturgy of the Hours, its massive scale ensured an entire choir could read the music from a single central lectern.

The binding features thick, rich brown leather stretched over heavy protective wooden boards. It is heavily armored with hand-hammered brass furniture designed to protect the precious vellum pages from wear. Ornate, star-shaped brass bosses puncture the center and corners, acting as protective bumpers when the heavy tome was laid flat on stone surfaces. Two leather straps with brass clasps remain intact on the right edge, used to keep the vellum pages compressed and safe from humidity.

A small, hand-lettered paper label is affixed to the front cover, bearing a Latin inscription that references specific feast days: “Ant. Fest. et Fest. que iung… a Sab. pt. adven. usq. ad Sab. Sanctum.” The inscription translates to: “Antiphons of Feasts and Feasts that are joined… from the Saturday before Advent up to Holy Saturday.”