Christie’S To Unveil A Very Rare 15Th Century Jewish Prayer Book In New York
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For Immediate Release April 13, 2012 Contact: Sung-Hee Park (New York) [email protected] tel +1 212 636 2680 Carine Decroi (Paris) [email protected] tel +331 40 76 85 88 CHRISTIE’S TO UNVEIL A VERY RARE 15 TH CENTURY JEWISH PRAYER BOOK IN NEW YORK ON EXHIBITION FOR THE FIRST TIME A T CHRISTIE’S NEW Y ORK ON A PRIL 16-17 Christie's Paris Books and Manuscripts Sale New York Exhibition : April 16-17 Christie's New York, 20 Rockefeller Plaza By Appointment Only – 212 636 2665 Auction : May 11, 2012 at 2pm Christie’s Paris, 9 avenue Matignon 75008 New York – On April 16-17, Christie’s New Y ork will unveil a rare and splendid example of Renaissance Judaica, an illuminated manuscript Mahzor that will be included in the May 11, 2012 Books and Manuscripts auction at Christie’s Paris. Comprising over 400 pages, this illuminated manuscript on vellum is a festival prayer book written in Hebrew and was created in Tuscany, and probably Florence , circa 1490. Offered at auction for the first time, the manuscript is estimated at $540,000-800,000 (£360,000- 530,000/€400,000- 600,000).
Transcript of Christie’S To Unveil A Very Rare 15Th Century Jewish Prayer Book In New York
8/2/2019 Christie’S To Unveil A Very Rare 15Th Century Jewish Prayer Book In New York
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For Immediate Release
April 13, 2012
Contact: Sung-Hee Park (New York) [email protected] tel +1 212 636 2680Carine Decroi (Paris) [email protected] tel +331 40 76 85 88
CHRISTIE’S TO UNVEIL A VERY RARE 15 TH CENTURY JEWISHPRAYER BOOK IN NEW YORK
ON EXHIBITION FOR THE FIRST TIME
A T CHRISTIE’S NEW Y ORK ON A PRIL 16-17
Christie's Paris Books and Manuscripts Sale
New York Exhibition : April 16-17
Christie's New York, 20 Rockefeller Plaza
By Appointment Only – 212 636 2665
Auction : May 11, 2012 at 2pm
Christie’s Paris, 9 avenue Matignon 75008
New York – On April 16-17, Christie’s New Y ork will
unveil a rare and splendid example of Renaissance
Judaica, an illuminated manuscript Mahzor that will be
included in the May 11, 2012 Books and Manuscripts
auction at Christie’s Paris. Comprising over 400 pages,
this illuminated manuscript on vellum is a festival
prayer book written in Hebrew and was created in
Tuscany, and probably Florence, circa 1490. Offered at
auction for the first time, the manuscript is estimatedat $540,000-800,000 (£360,000-530,000/€400,000-
600,000).
8/2/2019 Christie’S To Unveil A Very Rare 15Th Century Jewish Prayer Book In New York
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The illuminating manuscript was purchased in Frankfurt before 1908 and was subsequently owned
by Edmond Bicart-Sée. It has never been publicly exhibited and has remained in the possession of
his descendants in Paris for over eighty years. This Mahzor, containing prayers for the entire
liturgical year, is richly highlighted in gold with renaissance motifs and contains everyday customs,rituals and practices of Jewish life including daily prayers and blessings for Passover, Rosh
Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkoth. The striking frontispiece of the Mahzor is in the
characteristic style of Giovanni di Giuliano Boccardi, known as Boccardino il vecchio (1460-1529) –
‘one of the last representatives of the golden age of Florentine Renaissance Illumination.’ The
Jewish community of Florence flourished in the 15th century, their position closely linked to the
fortunes of the Medici. While there are other
Hebrew manuscripts illuminated by Christian
Florentines, this Mahzor is the only example we
know illuminated by Boccardino.
The coat-of-arms on the frontispiece is azure , a
rampant lion or holding a flaming chalice and sun;
the lion is flanked by a crescent moon and a sun or
star, having some resemblance to the coat of arms
of the Ambron family. Coats of arms used by
Jewish families in Italy were inventions, often
using traditional Jewish symbols and often
variable, making certain identification difficult. The 16th century binding of the Mahzor has a
central medallion with another coat-of-arms of
two affronted rampant lions flanking a palm tree,
combined elements featuring in the arms of a
number of families in Italy, including the
Tedesco/Tedeschi and Uzielli in Tuscany.
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Special Exhibition at Christie’s New York:
April 16-17, 9 am- 5 pm
Auction: Importants Livres Anciens, Livres d'Artistes et Manuscrits 11 May at 2pm Viewing: Christie's Paris, 9 avenue Matignon 75008 4-10 May
About Christie’sChristie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in 2011 that totaled £3.6billion/$5.7 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service andexpertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conductedthe greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the uniqueand the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fineand decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private
sales totaled £502 million / $808.6m in 2011, an increase of 44% on the previous year.
Christie’s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including inLondon, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong. More recently,Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and theUnited Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.
* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect cos ts, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
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