Jacqui Carey

This book is a detailed view of a 14th c. manuscript with embroidered binding, from several standpoints. Separate chapters discuss the provenance, the text, the binding, the embroidery, the stitches, the separate embroidered areas of the binding, and the making of a reconstruction of the binding. There are extensive footnotes, bibliography, and an index.

There is a wealth of closeup, detailed color photographs of the item, The stitches are diagrammed with probable ways they were created. In many cases, one cannot be certain without taking it apart, so these are educated analyses, not necesarrily rock-solid facts. The author is clear about what can be observed and what can be inferred.

This manuscript was written in Latin in England ca. 1380, by John Somer, a Franciscan friar. About 40 copies of his Kalendarium survive to the present day, so part of the discussion of provenance is narrowing down when this copy was made. I will let you read the text of this MS.8932 book if you wish to understand when this particular copy was created, bound, and decorated.

The text of Carey's book is readable and detailed; I found it fascinating and informative. I recommend this book for all people seeking to understand or reproduce this unique artifact, medieval almanacs, or are interested in embroidery of 14th c. England.

The book is available only on The Carey Company's website. The cost is reasonable (£25) but shipping to America is over half again as much in addition to that. It was worth it to me.… (mehr)