15th - 17th Century Antiphonal with the Canticle of Simeon

Origin: This antiphonal most likely originates from Spain or Southern Europe (such as Italy) and was produced between the late 15th century and the 17th century.

Medium: This antiphonal was meticulously handcrafted using hand-inked carbon black and vermilion inks on thick animal vellum, bound with tanned calfskin over solid wooden boards and reinforced with hand-hammered brass hardware.

Measures: 32" x 20" x 4"

DESCRIPTION:

This massive antiphonal is an example of early modern liturgical bookbinding, meticulously designed for communal monastic worship. Handcrafted in a scriptorium, its immense scale allowed an entire choir to read the Gregorian chant simultaneously from a central cathedral lectern. The book consists of thick vellum leaves containing hand-inked square notation and Gothic script, including a Marian antiphon and the Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon) complete with historical shorthand rubrics for the cantors.

The rugged exterior serves as defensive armor designed to protect the sacred text through centuries of daily use. Heavy tanned calfskin is stretched over solid wooden boards, which provided the immense weight necessary to keep the internal vellum pages from warping in damp, unheated stone churches. Adorned with hand-hammered brass corner bosses and a central crucifix.