The Black Book of Hours: A Gilded Darkness

Dating to circa 1458, the Black Book of Hours—one of only seven known manuscripts on black-dyed vellum—has emerged as a focal point at TEFAF New York. Believed to have belonged to Maria of Castile, this Flemish-crafted devotional work is undergoing conservation to alleviate strain from its 19th-century binding and to facilitate high-resolution digitization. Its pages, inscribed in gold and silver, exemplify the opulence and solemnity favored by the Burgundian court.

A reminder of the enduring allure of rare manuscripts and the importance of their preservation.

(Source: finebooksmagazine.com)