21 December 2017

21st of December

Manuscript Advent Calendar

Here comes the sun

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The winter solstice is always a welcome occurrence here in the north where we can't wait for the days to get longer again, so we might actually catch a glimpse of daylight before and after work. In honour of the sun's imminent return, we bring you some beautifully illuminated initials from AM 342 fol., a 16th century copy of the Icelandic law book Jónsbók. The manuscript is richly decorated and bound in leather. The cover indicates that it belonged to Danish Steward of the Realm Christoffer Walkendorff (1525-1601).

It may be wishful thinking, but we think the initial on f.8r looks like the sun. And all the gold leaf certainly reminds us of brighter days.

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