10th of December
A gift for the man who has everything
(Click on the picture for a larger version)
AM 29 fol. is a simple yet beautifully made book written in Middle Low German in 1452 and containing the history of the world. It was commissioned by Eggert Frille (ca. 1400-1470), the son of a nobleman from Schleswig, who rose to prominence in Denmark under King Christoffer III (1416-1448) and became chamberlain under King Christian I (1426-1481). Now what better way for a newly rich and powerful man to display such riches and power than by commissioning the writing of a book?
The manuscript opens with a dedication to Christian I, and the intent of the manuscript becomes clear on f. 2r, where the first initial of the text is decorated with the Frille coat of arms. This book is a status symbol, and so it is to be made abundantly clear that the Frille family are learned and influential people.
While the manuscript is not richly illuminated, it has been professionally written and there are a few manicules, inhabited initials, and rather charmingly the ascenders on words such as "keyser" (emperor) are decorated with spires and "konig" (king) are decorated with crowns.
(Click on the picture for a larger version)
Contact
Katrín Þórdís Driscoll is a research assistant at the Dept. of Nordic Studies and Linguistics.
Phone: +45 3533 1660
katdris@hum.ku.dk
Anne Mette Hansen is asscociate professor at the Arnamagnæan Institute.
Telephone: +45 35 32 87 13
amh@hum.ku.dk