Beschreibung:

The Hausbuch of Abbess Elizabeth de Bierbais of Nivelles Abbey, in Latin and French, decorated manuscript on vellum 103 leaves, 303mm. by 225mm., complete, collation: i-xii8, xiii7 (i a singleton), horizontal catchwords, written space 232mm. by 170mm., double column, 32 lines in black ink in an accomplished early Gothic bookhand, capitals touched in red, numerous 2-line initials in alternate red and blue with elaborate penwork tracery extending into borders, eleven large initials (3- to 5-lines in height) in variegated blue and red designs with extremely elaborate penwork tracery filling the border and terminating in sprigs of oak leaves and two birds and a simple line-drawn rabbit (fols. 51r, 52r, 57r, 60r, 61r, 63v, 78v, 82v, 87v; with two initials on 9r), similar initials with a line of ornate decorated capitals in red and blue on fols. 54 & 90v, later marginalia on fols. 47v (in French), and 73r-4r (in Latin), two large column-like diagrams on fol. 95r (with an erased trial for one of these on 94r), some leaves a little discoloured, but in good condition with wide and clean margins, strong and robust binding of fifteenth-century blind-tooled leather over massive wooden boards (probably original to volume and reused), with eagles, mottos and floral sprays between the initials 'SM', five metal bosses on each side and two large (250mm. by 35mm.) leather straps which attach to metal pegs on the front board, and holes on bottom of back board for chain hasp attachment, patch of leather missing from back, and spine exposed to show earlier chisel-cut sewing stations(probably original) and holes in boards for the earlier thongs (now filled with pegs)