Missale Romanum (missal) from 1889 with a magnificent binding made of gold-plated copper and 180 pearls and 76 precious stones

Description

Book: Catholic missal (Missale Romanum) from 1889 in good quality, but used during the liturgy (see photos for details)
Medium brown leather binding, marbled paper endpapers

Material: copper and brass plated in 24k yellow gold, gilded sockets on top - handcrafted from cast pewter
Filigree made of rolled and gilded brass wire

180 genuine cultured pearls
76 gemstones (68 real and 8 synthetic rubies) - see below for details
2 identical "ivory tablets" made of colored and patinated synthetic resin, made in our workshop based on antique models
2 gemstone book clasps

Dimensions: 36 x 26 x 9 cm
Weight: 5,6 kg

In 2008, this magnificent binding was created in our studio in the style of the High Middle Ages for a Missale Romanum (altar missal of the Catholic Church) from the end of the 19th century with 180 cultured pearls and 76 genuine gemstones.

There is no exact historical model for this extraordinary book cover, which is unique in the world. However, all of the details, such as the shape of the filigree or the shape of the various gemstone and pearl settings, were inspired by actual medieval book bindings.

Around 14 months of work, museum and literature research and the search for suppliers have gone into the cover. Approximately 1.000 filigree loops with 1.000 tiny beads and almost 200 gemstone and pearl settings on 14 book fittings (including the clasps) had to be made individually, assembled and then plated in 23,75 ct (carat) gold.

All pearls (cultured pearls) and 68 of the 76 gemstones are genuine (rubies and sapphires of simple quality, tourmalines, chrome diopsides, aquamarines, iolites, citrines, tiger's eyes, amethysts, phrenites, moonstones, smoky quartz, rock crystals and colored rock crystals, carnelian and much more). There are only 8 syntheses: the 4 large red corner stones and 2 smaller red stones in the binding as well as the 2 red stones in the book clasps are synthetic rubies - so-called corundums.

The book block also received an all-round gold edge, which was then patinated again, i.e. artificially aged.

The two identical "ivory panels" in the middle of the front cover and in the back cover were created in the same way as the professional museum copies: from a special synthetic resin with mineral pigments and a final patination (artificial aging). The "ivory tablets" represent the 12 apostles. The design of the book cover picks up on the theme of the reliefs: there are 12 book fittings, 6 each with a red stone and 6 with a rock crystal. The two central apostles in the upper row (Peter and Paul) are also reflected in the two large, hand-cut rock crystals at the top and bottom of the cover.

The precious stone book fittings as well as the book clasps were provided with a “built-in patination”: the solder with which the precious stone settings were soldered was intentionally not provided with a barrier layer between soldering and gilding. Therefore, over the years, the solder used slowly diffuses through the surrounding gold plating and "sucks up" it very slowly. The current condition required about 15 years between fresh gilding and today's patina. The process will continue. All of this is intentional, because it means that the magnificent binding is getting closer and closer to the incomparable patina of historical originals.

The result of the "built-in aging" finally convinced some large European museums, which is why this cover was shown by the curators of the following exhibitions on an equal footing with original medieval exhibits:

2017: Museon The Hague, exhibition "Knights & Castles - A new look at the Middle Ages"
2018: LVR LandesMuseum Bonn, exhibition "Knights & Castles - Time Travel to the Middle Ages"
2019: Het Valkhof in Nijmegen, exhibition “Middeleeuws vernuft – Interactieve familietentoonstelling” (“Medieval ingenuity – Interactive family exhibition”)

All three museums have estimated the value of the book at €25.000 and insured it for the duration of the respective exhibition. The relevant documents can be proven on request.

The inside of the Missale Romanum is in decent condition, but has also been used in more than 100 years of liturgy (see detailed images). The page markers (protruding tabs) typical of a missal have been cut out. The part with the crucifixion scene (“Te igitur…”), which is most frequently used in Catholic church celebrations, has clearer signs of wear and side repairs (see pictures).

The book cover can of course be examined in our studio by arrangement. We only need a few days' notice because of our safe deposit box.